Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/alan-wonky-dog-deformity/
In the deserts outside of Doha, Qatar, the sun beat down hot and the air was still. Far from the roar of the rapidly-growing metropolis, there sat a thirsty puppy in need.
The Saluki-Boxer cross, who would come to be named Alan, had a striking tan coat and hazel eyes, but his most prominent feature was his nose.
Because of a birth deformity, Alan’s face slopes to one side, exposing his teeth and, as his owners say, making him a bit “wonky.”
At two months old, Alan could hardly fend for himself out in the desert.
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He’d likely been abandoned because of his deformity, but that didn’t mean it would define his life — fortunately, he was rescued by Johanna Handley and her husband, who both live in Surrey, England.
Now, Alan spends his days with his parents and a bevy of brothers and sisters — the couple has children, as well as a host of other rescue dogs.
On TikTok, Alan brings love and laughter to his family and their nearly two million followers through his antics:
@alanthewonkydog #alanthenaughtydog #alanthewonkydog #sketchyshit #cutestdogaward
“Most of the comments and messages we get on his TikTok are so positive. People adore him,” Handley told the Daily Mail. “But now we’ll be walking down the street with Alan and people say ‘look it’s the TikTok dog.’”
Still, she says, others have pressured her to “fix” Alan’s face, which the family resists. Procedures to realign his nose and jaw would be painful, costly, and are not medically necessary.
On social media, the family hopes that Alan can inspire others to adopt rescue dogs and accept them as they are.
Keep up with their adventures on Instagram or TikTok!
Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog
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