Rockstar Bret Michaels Adopts Hero Dog After Life-Saving Act
Matthew Russell
Bret Michaels, the iconic frontman of the rock band Poison, recently made headlines by adopting a dog named after himself. This heartwarming story has garnered significant attention, and we're here to shed light on this extraordinary act of compassion.
A Heroic Canine Act
The heartwarming tale began when a 6-year-old husky, fittingly named Bret Michaels, became an unexpected hero at the Nebraska Humane Society. The dog stepped up in a moment of crisis, offering a life-saving blood donation to a 4-week-old kitten suffering from flea anemia, PEOPLE reports.
Photo: Bret Michaels performs in Massapequa, NY in 2014, Wikimedia Commons / Rjkowal, License: CC BY-SA 2.0 DEEDBret Michaels is a renowned American rock musician.
The kitten was brought into the shelter as a stray, along with two other felines. However, one of the kittens exhibited concerning symptoms: it was "wobbly, weak, and lethargic," indicating the presence of flea anemia, HuffPost reports. Shelter staff recognized the urgency of the situation and decided to perform a blood transfusion, as waiting for blood type testing was not an option.
Uniquely, the shelter opted for xenotransfusion, a procedure in which dog blood is used to transfuse cats. This temporary measure, while unconventional, provided the kitten with a fighting chance. Fortunately, the initial transfusion began to show signs of improvement in the kitten's condition.
“Cats, like humans, have blood types. Us humans are lucky to have a ‘universal donor’ type, O-, that can be safely transfused into a person with any other type,” wrote the Nebraska Humane Society, which noted that “canine blood can be transfused into felines” in an Instagram post.
Bret Michaels, the Dog's Hero
This heartwarming story reached Michaels, the musician, who was deeply moved by the selfless act of the husky.
"I could not have been more touched and more honored to adopt Bret Michaels the husky, knowing that he gave blood to save the life of a kitten," he told PEOPLE. "I could not work fast enough to adopt this husky and extend the awesome quality of little Bret Jr.'s life."
Bret Michaels, the rockstar, immediately reached out to the Nebraska Humane Society, declaring his intention to adopt the heroic husky. His decision to welcome the dog into his family came at a time when he was still mourning the loss of his 14-year-old German shepherd, Phoenix, reports Kare 11. The musician acknowledged the positive impact this story had on his family, stating it brought a smile back into their lives.
Photo: Facebook / Nebraska Humane SocietyBret Michaels the dog helped provide some critical blood for a kitten in need.
A Special Bond and a New Home
This touching narrative doesn't end with the dog's adoption. Bret Michaels, the husky, is joining a loving family that includes two other rescue shepherds, Nova and Draco.
“Bret Michaels the human has experience with huskies, and he’s a big fan of them," Alec Rose, the digital marketing manager for the Nebraska Humane Society, told KMTV. "He’s got German shepherds too and they can be pretty similar, so right off the bat he was interested in taking him home.”
In adopting Bret Michaels, the husky, the iconic rockstar has demonstrated compassion and a deep connection to the world of animals. His decision to adopt this hero dog not only saved a kitten's life but also showcased the remarkable bond between humans and the pets they love.
