FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 3, 2006
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Dog Injured By
“Cruel” Snare
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DEARBORN—A gorgeous,
copper-coated Shepherd mix needs your help in finding the individuals who
caused a braided metal cable to become cruelly embedded in her neck. On
Tuesday, January 31, the Dearborn Animal Control received a call that a dog was
loose on Appoline Street (south of Warren in East Dearborn)
and dragging a long wire. Alarmed by the bleeding gash on the dog’s neck, the
officer transported her to Dearborn Family Pet Care, owned and operated by Dr.
Cheryl Good, DVM.
Dr. Good, who is also the
Medical Director for the Friends For Dearborn Animal Shelter (the Friends),
immediately went to work---examining the wound, and discovering that the metal
cable had created a two-inch-deep lesion along the entire circumference of the
dog’s neck. After the injured dog was anesthetized, Dr. Good and her staff
spent nearly an hour removing the cable, and cleaning, clipping, and preparing
her neck for surgery. Then Dr. Good, along with veterinary technician Christin Hitsman, devoted another
three hours to removing damaged, infected tissue; reconstructing major vessels,
muscle tissue, and connective tissue; and, finally, closing up the large wound
after placing drains to help the healing process.
The resilient Shepherd
pulled through her operation and Dr. Good reports that she is recovering from
what could have been a near fatal experience. Friends President and Chair
Stevie Cote, who was at the clinic when the dog was brought in, commented, “I
was in tears when I saw her condition. It is truly a miracle she is still
alive.” The three-year-old dog will recuperate at Dearborn Family Pet Care,
watched over by staff members who have named the sweet and friendly girl
“Fancy.” When she is well enough, Fancy will be ready for adoption through the
Dearborn Animal Shelter.
Following
Fancy’s surgery, Dr. Good inspected the metal cable and determined that it was
from a live-catch cable restraint, commonly called a snare. Snares are
usually used to capture animals, such as foxes and coyotes. The Michigan
Department of Natural Resources does not consider snares to be illegal, if used
properly. Dearborn Animal Control officers, however, do not use these devices,
and the Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter does not condone their use.
According
to Dr. Good, it is possible that the snare was used to either capture Fancy or the
snare was set to catch a wild animal and Fancy got caught in it by
mistake. “Either way,” remarked Dr. Good, “these traps are cruel and
unusual punishment if you ask me.”
For more
information about Fancy, or if you would like to make a donation to help with
her medical costs, please contact Dearborn Family Pet Care at (313) 561-5920.
Any donations over and above the cost of her care will be forwarded to the
Friends to help care for the animals waiting to be adopted at the Dearborn
Animal Shelter, which is located at 2661 Greenfield Rd.
In
addition, the Friends encourage anyone who might know about this case to please
contact the shelter at (313) 943-2697. A monetary reward will be given to
anyone providing information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the
person or persons involved in this heinous crime perpetrated against such an
endearing dog.
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The
mission of the Friends for the Dearborn Animal Shelter (FFDAS) is to
provide loving care and sanctuary to animals, encourage adoptions and
reunions,
and promote respect, responsibility and compassion for all animals.
Animals are the heart of our mission.
* * * * *
We cordially encourage your coverage of this information. Thank you.
Contact:
Elaine
Greene
Executive Director, Shelter and Animal Services
(313) 943-2077