This Ain’t No Freak Show
Thanks to Allyson Siegel who ponied up $4000 a five-legged chihuahua won’t be headed to live out her life in a freak show.
Last week she outbid a Coney Island freak show operator who wanted to buy the puppy.
Allyson Siegel, 45, of Charlotte, N.C., was stunned to learn that little Precious, a Chihuahua-terrier mix, was bound for a Brooklyn freak show, so she called the dog’s owner, Calvin Owensby, and offered him more bones.
“I called Calvin and I said, ‘I understand this is about money,’ and I just said, ‘How much,’” Siegel told the Daily News yesterday.
“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.
Precious was born with a fifth leg protruding from her stomach, between her hind legs. The extra leg has six toes.
John Strong, the freak show proprietor in Coney Island, had already offered Owensby $3,000 and sent a $1,000 down payment, but Siegel convinced him to back out and sell her the puppy for $4,000.
“[Precious] wasn’t a freak, she was just a dog born with five legs,” Owensby told the Daily News. “My girlfriend decided she didn’t want to see her in a freak show.”
A Manhattan vet was so touched by Siegel’s actions that he offered to remove the dog’s extra leg for free. Siegel had checked with a local vet but they wanted $2,000 to remove the extra leg.
* Pic courtesy SINER/AP
I’m so glad this pup has a chance at normal life in a loving home! All dogs should be so lucky!
Give Allyson 5 paws for coming to the rescue of this precious little Precious. She is no freak, and it appauled me to think that someone could be so cruel as that Coney Island business owner. She deserves a life of love and care. Thank you Allyson for saving ths precious little one.
Way to go Allyson! One lucky puppy:)
A victory! Now the little pup will not be exploited and is in a home where she is loved and appreciated.
What a beautiful puppy. Thank you, Allison for demonstrating your love for Lilly.
allyson is wonderful to step in and save lilly from a degrading life! thank you!
Allyson, we heart you!
thank u, thank u, thank u……..
I hope Precious gets her own Dogster Page.
Allyson is a true Southern belle and my kind of two-legged animal. I’m quite sure Precious will repay her the four thousand dollars in love.
Allyson,
You’re our hero!!!
Woof, Woof!!! and an extra big WOOF!
Congratulations and a grateful thank you to Allyson for stepping in to take care of Precious. If only there were more people in this world with Allyson’s heart, the world would be a much better place.
a new name and a new life.
you’re an angel allison!
kisses for lily!
lily on CNN
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/07/25/dnt.5.legged.dog.surgery.wcnc