About six to eight million pets―mainly dogs and cats―get picked up by shelters in the United States every year. Such high figures indicate that more and more animals are leaving the comfort of warm, loving homes and ending up on the cold, dangerous streets.
Countless pet owners try to justify their reasons for letting a pet go. As a result, it’s hard to be shocked anymore by what motivates such abandonment. However, this is not a regular account of an abandoned pet. Instead, it’s a story of a dog, an ill-advised owner, and the perils of bigotry.
Why Do We Want Animal Companionship?
Scientists have tried to determine what inspires the bond between animals and humans. But there’s no one answer. Pets can satisfy our innate need to nurture a creature smaller than ourselves. If you’ve owned one before, you have to admit there’s something very soothing about grooming a pet.
On the other hand, science says that interacting with pets can help reduce stress and cause feelings of happiness and relaxation in humans. But there’s also that people with pets are considered more trustworthy. So clearly, there’s much to be gained from having a pet.
Say Hello to the Gay Dog
Considering the obvious perks of having a pet, we decided to check out the top reasons why people give up their pets. One thing stuck out like a sore thumb―most people don’t fully understand the responsibilities of pet ownership before getting one.
Some pet owners give up their pets due to time factors, lack of experience, finances, impromptu life changes, and boredom. But as weird as it may seem, some also give them up when they perceive gay attraction. That is how we came to know about Fezco, the gay dog.
What Makes an Ideal Pet?
To listen to Fezco’s owner, one would be left with a strong impression that the possibility of a pet being gay is less than ideal. But, of course, this brings up what makes a ‘perfect’ pet. Are there specific factors that should matter? And should personal orientation even be a part of the equation?
Different pets have certain qualities that make them ideal for their prospective owners. For example, we love cats because they are playful but self-reliant. So they can be cuddly one moment and standoffish the next. Just as we love dogs because they are social animals, and they thrive on interaction and attention.
Do These Animals Have Feelings?
We’ve considered why people want pets and why they give them up. But as a pet owner yourself, have you ever thought about how your actions and behaviors could influence your beloved cat, dog, or ferret?
Animals are no different from humans in the range of feelings and emotions they experience. Among other means, you can learn how they feel by paying attention to their postural changes. Once you accept that your pet can feel just as much as you do, you might be more sensitive to how your bias affects them.
Why Are Dogs a Fan Favorite?
Ask any dog lover, and they’d try to convince you that dogs are the best pets ever. We’re willing to bet that Fezco’s owner thought the same thing when he brought him home initially. He must have wanted a loyal pet whose excitable nature could complement his own.
Although we can’t say much about his home life, having Fezco along with him on his walks must have been a perk. Of course, you can always trust a dog to sound the alarm when danger is near and attack the would-be intruder depending on the breed.
Dogs in History – a Refined Purpose
But before we go on with Fezco’s story and how he fell on hard times, you must understand that man and dogs had a different relationship in the past. Then, our contact with dogs was purely functional rather than the affectionate give-and-take relationship we’ve come to know.
It turns out dogs were one of the first animals humans ever domesticated. But rather than dogs themselves, we started with wolves. Humans offered shelter and protection, and in turn, the wolves helped out with hunting. Over time, those domesticated wolves bred and evolved until they became dogs as we know them.
An Owner’s Fear of Gay Coupling
So we have Fezco, an offspring of some ancient domesticated wolf, trying to live his best life until the years catch up with him. It’s easy to assume he was having the best of times. But then, one day, he was hoisted out of the house and taken on a trip.
Happy old Fezco though it was a typical car ride with his owner. He must have imagined that they’d be heading back home soon enough. But his owner had caught him humping a male dog a while ago. And the idea of a gay dog didn’t sit well with them, making them very motivated to let Fezco go.
A Gay Couple Hears the News
When Fezco was dropped off at Stanly County Animal Protective Services by his owners, the shelter’s first thought was to share the unfortunate news of his abandonment on Facebook. But soon enough, the story went past the virtual walls of social media and was covered nationally.
It’s a good thing, though. Because once Steve Nichols and his husband, John Winn, caught the news, they were more than interested in Fezco’s welfare. Nichols revealed that he was in shock when he heard the news. After all, how could anyone treat a dog that way?
Is There Such a Thing as a Gay Dog?
All this buzz around poor Fezco raises another critical question. Can dogs be gay? And because there’s no way to answer this with an outright yes or no, we’d all have to do with a maybe.
Dogs may exhibit intimate attraction or mating behavior with other dogs of the same gender. But because they lack a consistent orientation as some humans do, the term gay does not do them justice. So it is safe to say dogs do what they want when they want without worrying about the constraints of gender.
Giraffes and the Art of Necking
But that’s not to say that many other animals aren’t also prone to gay relations and mating behavior. Take giraffes, for example. Studies show that your average giraffe exhibits more gay than opposite-gender carnal behavior.
To put a number on it, over 90% of all intimate activity among giraffes occurs among members of the same gender. And male giraffes are particularly adept at flirting and foreplay, which can last for up to an hour. So when next you see a giraffe gently rubbing its neck over the other’s body, you’ll know what’s happening.
Gentle Sheep and Gay Relations
We bet you didn’t know sheep can be gay too. An Oregon Health and Science University researcher discovered that 8% of rams prefer to exhibit mating habits with their fellow rams rather than the ewes. This realization has apparent consequences for reproduction in sheep. But, at the same time, it helps us understand how diverse personal orientation is among animals.
Before you go on a bend wondering about the weird similarities between sheep and us humans, you should know that these gay sheep are mainly accounted for among domestic sheep. And they tend to release fewer mating hormones than straight sheep.
Exclusively Gay until Age 4 –a Walrus’ Tale
Walruses also belong on the list. But things work a bit differently with them. Imagine that you’re born a unicorn, and from then on until you’re four years old, you can’t be anything else. But the moment the clock strikes midnight on your fourth birthday, you transform into a completely different creature.
Yeah, that pretty much describes how it works for male walruses. Because they don’t reach venereal maturity until four years old, they are exclusively gay, as it were. But once they reach the four-year-old mark, male walruses typically exhibit an attraction to both male and female walruses.
Ever Heard of Bonobos?
Bonobo is an endangered great ape, so unless you’ve done your research or have an unquenchable obsession with nature shows, you probably wouldn’t know of the specie. Bonobos are classified as ‘peace-loving’ apes who resolve conflicts following the ‘Make love, not war’ mantra.
Although most bonobos are openly attracted to males and females and enthusiastic about physical pleasure, about two-thirds of gay relations occur among females. So if Fezco were outed in the wild, bonobos would be cheering him on from the sidelines. Acceptance isn’t peculiar to humans alone, after all.
Mounting Bison
When you think you couldn’t learn more about gay animals, you discover that bison can be gay. Of course, we’re more concerned with the actual animal and not Appa from “Avatar.” Still, it doesn’t matter if your knowledge of bison begins and ends with the flat-tailed flying creature in the animation series.
American bison exhibit a lot of gay mating behavior. This could have a lot to do with the females only mating with the bulls once every year. So for the rest of the year, the male population is more commonplace. Interestingly, such behavior even continues even during mating season.
The King of the Jungle Can’t Be Left Out
Isn’t it funny how a lion’s actual habitat includes grassland, savannahs, scrublands, and rocky hills but not jungles? But still, they have been called everything from the kings of the jungle to the king of beasts. So, of course, if you wish to dispute any of those titles, take it up with the next lion you come across.
Being gay in male lions often plays out like an intense bromance. In groups of two or four, called a ‘coalition,’ these animals have gay relations to strengthen their bonds and ensure loyalty.
A Lot Can Happen in Seven Days
Of course, every animal on that list thrives in the wild and isn’t particularly fond of domestication. So we can’t compare their situation accurately to Fezco’s. So there he was, taken away from the home he’d grown to love and thrust into a strange environment.
You can imagine the poor dog’s loneliness and confusion as he waited and waited for his owner to come to pick him up. Minutes ran into hours and days. Finally, seven days passed, and Fezco realized that home was nothing but clinging to the past.
How Everything Changed in 48 Hours
It takes kindness to hear of the plight of one who’s been maltreated and do all one can do to remedy it. So there are no words to describe the sheer kindness and generosity that Nichols and Winn exhibited when they called the TV station to learn more about Fezco.
They had no way of knowing if the gay dog was still in the shelter. And they probably ran through many different scenarios. But they found the reporter who’d covered the story eventually and got in touch with the shelter. Less than 48 hours later, the couple signed Fezco’s adoption papers.
Leave Fezco in the Past: You’re Oscar Wilde Now
It’s natural to name a new pet when you get one. Because, like babies, new pets need something to answer to. They also require an entirely new identity to assimilate well into the new environment they’d come to call home. So Fezco’s transition from the shelter to his new home was marked by a name change.
Nichols explained that he and his husband prefer to give their pets human names rather than cutesy names like ‘Fluffy’ or ‘Sparky.’ Instead, they chose to name Fezco after Oscar Wilde, one of the most notoriously gay people in history. How fitting!
Giving Dogs Human Names, Does It Matter?
They are certainly not the first pet owners to opt for human names. And a rule of thumb when choosing a human name for your fur baby is to make sure it’s something they can learn. For example, overly complex names can be problematic. A shorter version could be preferred for day-to-day interactions if you simply must.
People who give their dogs human names often do so because they either have some sentimental connection to the name or simply enjoy assigning their dogs an identity that draws them closer to the human environment. But Nichols and Winn were inspired by the first option.
The Strangest Dog Name You’ve Ever Come Across
But if you think Oscar Wilde is a strange name, you should hear some of the other choices owners have made. “Peanut Wigglebut” and “Airbubble McMuffin” are some of the most bizarre yet. If you’re wondering how anyone could decide that “Sir Hog knucklehead” was a good name for a dog, your guess is as good as ours.
But that’s not the worst it could get. We’ve also got some unlucky dogs wandering around with names like “Waffle Dots,” “Angus T Brackencrack,” and “Hamburger Patty.” We bet Oscar Wilde is looking more and more appealing now.
But All’s Not Well with Oscar Wilde
The story should have ended with Fezco, now Oscar Wilde, getting adopted and going home with two new daddies. But sadly, the adoption didn’t put everything right. After signing the papers and taking him out of the shelter, Nichols noticed their new dog wasn’t in good health.
Fortunately for Oscar Wilde, it took just an hour for them to spot it, and rather than wait it out, the couple quickly headed to Pressly Animal Hospital in Matthews, North Carolina. Right there, he was admitted and given a health check.
Why Veterinarians Matter
Vets are essential for the very same reasons doctors are. The health and safety of pets matter just as much as the health and safety of their owners. Of course, no one understands this better than devoted pet owners.
So, just as you’d go running to the hospital for a diagnosis when you feel a bit out of sorts, your pets require that same level of care and attention. With animal hospitals like Pressly working hard to address different animals’ health and welfare needs, dogs like Oscar Wilde can enjoy optimum healthcare.
Getting Diagnosed with Heartworms
Nichols was right to take Oscar Wilde to the vets right away. Because while there, the poor dog was diagnosed with heartworms. If you didn’t know, heartworm is a severe disease in pets that could increase the risks of lung disease, heart failure, and other organ damage.
All across the 50 states of America, more than 100,000 dogs are diagnosed with this deadly condition. And it’s called heartworm because the worms make their home in the heart and blood vessels of an infected animal. Oscar Wilde was lucky enough to be treated before his condition worsened.
Heartworm Life Cycle in Canines
Oscar Wilde is a lucky dog indeed. But what could have happened if he hadn’t gotten the proper treatment in time? It takes six to seven months for the infective larvae in an infected dog to mature. However, the cycle is completed after mating occurs, and the females release their offspring into the dog’s bloodstream.
Heartworm disease is only spread through the bite of a mosquito. So thankfully, dogs can’t catch the disease from another infected dog. Still, heartworms can spend five to seven years inside a dog. When you consider how dogs age, that’s a pretty long time.
How Was Oscar Wilde Tested for Heartworms?
Veterinarians use different tests to check a dog for heartworms. So Oscar Wilde could have received an antigen test. That’s a test used to detect specific heartworm proteins in a dog’s bloodstream. Usually, antigen tests can accurately detect infection.
But there’s also the test used to detect microfilariae. Yes, it’s a mouthful. Essentially, the presence of microfilariae in a dog would indicate that they’ve been infected with adult heartworms. And after these tests are run, a diagnosis can be made.
Prevention Is Best, but Treatment Helps
Like most diseases, it’s much better to prevent heartworm disease entirely. But we live in an imperfect world where it’s almost impossible to shield pets from everything that could cause them harm. We don’t even have as much luck doing such risk prevention for humans.
So, where prevention fails, treatment is available to set things right. Luckily, several FDA-approved products could be prescribed for a dog like Oscar Wilde to cure him of heartworms. The options are limitless, from topical liquids to oral tablets―both chewable and non-chewable.
Cats Can Get Heartworms Too
Sad news for cat lovers, though. Your favorite pets can get heartworms too. But there’s a good side to this. Because the biological makeup of cats is quite different from that of dogs, they aren’t very susceptible to the infection.
No doubt, knowing that cats are not a natural host of heartworms could cause excitement. Still, you also have to take proper steps to ensure that your cat doesn’t get infected in the first place. Both indoor and outdoor cats are at risk for the disease.
Should Humans Beware?
As far as we know, dogs, cats, and ferrets are all at risk of being infected with heartworm disease. But as we said earlier, the disease itself is not contagious. So Nichols and Winn never had to worry about getting heartworms from poor Oscar Wilde.
Humans could only get the disease if an infected mosquito bit them. But people aren’t natural hosts, so most times, the larvae would die before maturing into adult heartworms. In any case, the likelihood of humans getting infected in the first place is quite rare.
Dogs Naturally Hump Each Other
We think it would be lovely if Fezco’s previous owner could read this because they could stand to learn a thing or two about dogs. For one, mounting or humping is normal play behavior among dogs. And every observant dog owner has come across their pet humping something or someone.
Also, dogs sometimes mount other animals to exert dominance. Again, an act that has nothing to do with their orientation―remember when we explained that the concept is alien to them? Do dogs belong to the 1,500 animal species that have been observed to exhibit gay behavior? Yes. Do dogs hump dogs without mating in mind? Heck yes!
Learning to Love and Be Loved Again
Not all dogs are lucky enough to be granted a new lease on life. And for every dog that gets picked up and adopted at a shelter, the sad reality is that several more never had the opportunity to find a new home.
Fortunately for Oscar Wilde, his new owners didn’t care if he humped male dogs or other animals. All they wanted was for him to be happy and healthy. So as the days passed with no one making a move to abandon him again, Oscar Wilde learned to love again.
How to Tell If Your Dog Is Happy
The core responsibility of every pet owner is to be in tune with their pet’s emotions. So you should always know when your dog is happy or sad. Of course, as in humans, the signs of a happy dog may differ among breeds.
A happy dog would always look you in the eye and try hard to obey your rules. Also, you can always tell a dog is excited when it wriggles around and tries to slobber you in saliva. In addition, when your dog always tries to play with your or other pets, or its ears always perk up when you enter a room, you know it’s happy.
What to Look Out for in a Five-year-old Dog
Oscar Wilde’s shelter initially couldn’t figure out his exact age. But they knew it fell within the range of four to five. Ideally, a dog in Oscar Wilde’s age range is approaching middle age and would require early intervention for any medical conditions that may come up.
Like loving parents, Nichols and Winn stepped up to the plate regarding Oscar Wilde’s heartworm diagnosis. If you own a dog in that age range, you may want to note that their metabolism starts to slow down, and pounds may pile up much faster.
Oscar Finds a Friend
We may never know if Oscar’s previous owner had any other pets, But that doesn’t matter anyway, especially as Nichols and Winn had another dog for him to play with―Harry. Oscar’s brother was a rescue who’d been adopted by the couple ten years before he joined the family.
As you’d expect, he had been with them long enough to experience critical moments like weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries. Speaking of key moments, Harry must have cut a striking figure when he played the godfather at the couple’s nuptial ceremony.
There Are Still Good People in the World
When you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community, you’re bound to face discrimination. And most times, these adverse reactions to your orientation are fueled by years of ingrained prejudice and bigotry by less inclusive members of society.
But after years together, Fezco’s story touched a nerve within this couple. They couldn’t understand why the same ignorance they’d faced all their lives could be directed towards a helpless dog. We’re happy to see two people so determined to change the world in their unique way. Who said dogs don’t deserve happy endings too?
Take a Chance, Why Don’t You?
If we all accept that people and animals come in different shades, the world will be a better place. However, the fact that you’re used to seeing in back and white doesn’t mean that you have to be scared of the beautiful, bright colors of the rainbow.
Oscar is no longer Fezco because a kind and loving couple saw a chance to take him in and give him all the love he deserved. Indeed, we all could learn from their example. Of course, we don’t expect you to head to the first shelter you can and adopt a pet right away. But would it hurt to take a chance?