A remarkably Eazy story to tell

Published on 18 September 2026

When Eazy arrived at the shelter in August 2025, very little was known about his history. He soon developed a wound on the left side of his chest that wasn't healing properly. An initial exploratory surgery was performed, but no cause for the wound could be found at the time.

Further examination found that the wound continued to drain and develop small openings, with firm scar tissue beneath the skin, raising concerns that a foreign object might be trapped inside his body.

Following this, the shelter team reached out to Melbourne Animal Referral Services (MARS) for further assistance. Dr Alex Santamaria generously offered to help investigate the ongoing issue.

A CT scan performed at MARS revealed a long stick-like object (believed to be part of a wooden skewer or stick) extending from under the skin of his chest, along his breastbone, through the tissue inside his abdomen, and ending near his gallbladder.

Eazy underwent surgery to remove the stick. Based on its location and the amount of scar tissue present, it is believed the object had been lodged inside him for several months, possibly even years. During that time, it caused ongoing inflammation, infection, and the draining wound seen on his chest.

The foreign object has now been successfully removed, giving Eazy the opportunity to heal without the source of the ongoing infection.

The shelter is incredibly grateful to Dr Alex Santamaria and the team at Melbourne Animal Referral Services (MARS) for their expertise and generosity in helping diagnose and treat Eazy's complex condition.

Eazy has since gone on to find an incredible home in a semi-rural area where he enjoys the company of his family, cats and even cows. He even has a new name (Ozzy!)

Watch Eazy's remarkable story