California Husky mix survived an embedded harness, and is now ready for adoption

A 7-month-old Husky mix named Titan is now headed toward adoption after surviving a severe injury that might have killed him.

NBC Bay Area said Titan was discovered at a Central Valley shelter with a harness that had tightened so much it cut into his skin. Following months of treatment, he has recovered enough to start looking for a permanent home.

What happened?

Titan came to the attention of Walnut Creek's Northern California Sled Dog Rescue after volunteers learned he had been placed on a euthanasia list, the station reported.

Rescue volunteer Nancy Curtis said the crisis developed because Titan kept growing while the harness stayed on.

"He came into the shelter with a harness that had been put on him when he was smaller than he was when he went into the shelter," Curtis told NBC Bay Area.

Rescuers found that the harness had sunk beneath Titan's skin by the time they intervened, causing major wounds and significant pain. 

Once he was brought to the Bay Area, veterinarians and volunteers began an intensive course of care that included surgery, medication, and daily wound treatment. The healing process was long and not without complications.

"He required a second surgery to fix some of the complications from that," Curtis recounted to the station. "A lot of medications and a lot of healing time."

Why does it matter?

Titan's case is a reminder that even ordinary equipment like a harness can become hazardous if it is not checked often and resized as a pet grows. 

The saga also showed that dogs can be put up for euthanasia unless rescue groups are willing to step in and provide time and money to save them. 

Curtis said Northern California Sled Dog Rescue has been in operation since 1998 and has placed more than 4,000 dogs in homes over the years, per NBC Bay Area. 

Some dogs may appear to be lost causes to some, but all they need is medical care, attention, and patience. As Titan got stronger, his personality began to emerge.

"Titan has an incredibly sweet, very gentle energy that isn't necessarily typical of huskies," Curtis relayed to the station. "He's got a really calm, gentle demeanor that I personally find really compelling. I think he's a really great dog."

What's being done?

For Titan, the next step is finding a home. 

"You can't even tell there was anything wrong with him now," Curtis told NBC Bay Area. "He looks fantastic."

The rescue group continues to move dogs like him from shelters into foster placements and adoptive homes throughout the Bay Area. To keep that effort going, the nonprofit depends on foster families, members, volunteers, and frequent adoption events.

"We have hundreds of members, dozens of active volunteers," Curtis revealed to the station. "We do adoption events almost every weekend around the Bay Area."

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