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Five-Legged Pup Saved From Freak Show

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posted: 111 DAYS 2 HOURS AGO
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(July 20) -- A North Carolina woman saved a five-legged puppy from life in a freak show, but it came at a steep cost.
Allyson Siegel paid a cool $4,000 for a six-week-old Chihuahua-terrier mix, after hearing the dog's owner was selling her to a Coney Island freak show operator, the New York Daily News reported.
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The puppy, whom Siegel renamed "Lilly" from the original "Precious," was born with a fifth appendage growing out of her abdomen between her two hind legs. Her original owner, Calvin Owensby, decided to sell the pup because he's been out of work since December.
John Strong, owner of the "Freaks of Nature" museum in Coney Island, offered Owensby $3,000 in early July to add Precious to his collection. Siegel countered with an extra $1,000.
"I saw her and she's so adorable and I felt like I needed to be an advocate for her because she can't speak," Siegel said. "It just broke my heart. I needed to see if there was something I could do."
Owensby told the Daily News that Strong had told him he ran an amazing animal farm, not a freak show. "I don't think a dog should go to a freak show," Owensby said, and added that his girlfriend agreed, prompting him to take Siegel's counteroffer.
"She is beautiful, she's not a freak, she's a normal little puppy dog and she should be just like all the others," Siegel said. She has scheduled surgery to remove Lilly's extra leg later this month.
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Kerry Hardy, Caters News / ZUMA Press
Kerry Hardy, Caters News / ZUMA Press
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2009-07-20 11:32:39

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GreenEyes4Nascar

07:57 PMJul 22 2009

God bless you Allyson and your new puppy !!

AVG RATING:
(1)

LOOKITSPAM

02:57 PMJul 22 2009

THANK YOU.

AVG RATING:
(0)

Ndtohvfun

03:59 AMJul 22 2009

you are a wonderful person Allyson, what an adorable furbaby there is a special place in Heaven for those who rescue and are kind to animals

AVG RATING:
(6)

Laurarvail1

03:25 AMJul 22 2009

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! What a cute wittle puppy! I wouldn't care if she had five legs or three... she lives up to her first first name too... Precious! Though I am glad she now has a good home and someone who will care for her and about her....

AVG RATING:
(5)

Petluv510

03:18 AMJul 22 2009

Hopefully, the vet has the necessary skills to do the operation. It's not a typical operation and it would need a specialist for the procedure. I hope it's not an operation that doesn't give the puppy good survival chances, otherwise, it really should be left alone.

AVG RATING:
(2)

Kris87628

02:01 AMJul 22 2009

As a pet owner, volunteer and animal lover, I think it's wonderful this woman saved the dog from as another poster said, a life in a cage. I have seen so many animals without homes and dropped off on roadsides, left to fend for themselves it's sad. As for the people who criticize her, when was the last time most of you did a charitable deed? It's easy to knock someone when you don't contribute. I rescued cats and just recently picked a dog up on the highway whose owner decided he just "didn't want to keep her". She has since been adopted and is with a good family. We all need to pitch in and do charitable work for whatever we deem important to us instead of insulting someone else's choice of what causes they support.

AVG RATING:
(10)

Smithfamilymem

01:58 AMJul 22 2009

well It is somewhat easier to Love most animals than some people, Who take advanage of You talk about You behind Your back andLike You said a dog will love thier owners just because they are There

AVG RATING:
(6)

Rendony7777

01:57 AMJul 22 2009

You are an angel. Bless your heart and your little dog too!!!

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(8)
Thunderdummy2 Click to read Low-rated and possibly explicit material.

Scorpusjuris70

01:29 AMJul 22 2009

Allyson....My husband and I live in Charlotte as well. We are rescue foster parents to strays, elderly and ill animals. Please let us know how we can donate food and toys to your little angel through your veterinarian or perhaps donate to ease what will surely be a tremendous medical expense. You may contact us via scorpusjuris70@aolcom

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(11)

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A North Carolina woman saved a five-legged puppy from life in a freak show, but it came at a steep cost.