A stray puppy rescued from the streets of Fulham has been found to have a fetish for women's underwear.
Vets at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home are used to some unusual sights when they take in new animals.
But even they were shocked by Barney, a stray nine month-old puppy, who appeared to have a never-ending appetite for women’s knickers. Incredibly, he had digested three entire sets of pants.
How the Staffordshire Bull Terrier came to have two pairs of black cotton underpants and a black thong in his digestive system is a complete mystery, as Barney was found wandering near Lillie Road, Fulham on December 3.
But luckily, his penchant for pants had no adverse effects on this bright, lively dog.
Barney was out for a walk on his second day at Battersea, only to leave a rather large surprise for the member of staff taking him for his stroll. On closer inspection, it was found that a pair of women’s knickers had been swallowed whole and had passed right through his system, completely intact.
Every couple of days, Barney managed to pass another pair of pants, until he had left a total of three pairs, all of which were in one piece.
Concerned vets at the animal charity rushed Barney in for an x-ray to check for more, but despite having consumed half a week’s supply of underwear, the puppy seemed unfazed and suffered no ill effects from his all-cotton diet.
Sam Barley, veterinary surgeon at Battersea, said: “We thought we’d seen it all at Battersea, but clearly not. Who knows how Barney came to swallow so many pairs of pants.
“It will remain his secret, but this little puppy is clearly a bit of a scavenger and we’ll be advising his new owners to keep him well away from the laundry basket and the washing line.
“Dogs can often eat the most unlikely things, whether big or ‘smalls’ in this case, but luckily for Barney he seems to have coped remarkably well.”
This is by no means the first time Battersea dogs have swallowed something unusual, with vets having to remove a toy bus, corn on the cob, a squeaky toy and even a kebab skewer from other dogs in the past.
Ali Taylor, head of canine welfare training, added: “Try not to leave things lying around if your dog likes to pick them up. If your dog does get hold of something they shouldn’t, try exchanging the item the dog has in its mouth for their favourite treat or toy.
“If your dog has eating something it really shouldn’t and you’re worried, consult your vet immediately.”
Barney is looking for a new home with plenty of space, and can possibly live with other dogs and children. For more information, call 020 7622 3626 or visit www.battersea.org.uk.
