Puppy chews leg off to break free from chain
Camden, NJ (US)Incident Date: Friday, Feb 23, 2007
County: Camden
Disposition: Open
Case Images: 1 files available
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
A young, female pit bull's leg was all but chewed off, yet she was happily wagging her tail as the trio approached.
Camden animal control officer Steve Bordi and his crew found the 8-month-old dog on Feb 23 in an empty lot near 8th and Vine streets in North Camden on Friday after receiving an anonymous tip.
Bordi said the bone was sticking out of a ball of flesh when he found her.
The dog was completely submissive, Bordi said, curled up on a folded piece of cardboard and apparently waiting to die.
Yet, "She turned, looked at us and started wagging her tail," Bordi said.
Bordi and his crew took the dog to Rothman Animal Hospital in Collingswood. The staff there has named her "Rosie."
Saturday, she bounced around the hospital, jumping forward with her left leg while the right was heavily bandaged.
Bordi and the hospital staffers said they think a chain or cable had tangled around Rosie's right leg.
It became so taut, it cut off circulation in the bottom half of her leg. Rosie's only choice was to chew herself free.
No one is sure how Rosie got into the situation she did.
The hospital's night manager, Shelley Hill , said deep indentations were clearly visible above the gnawed stump, which exposed a bone and some cartilage, when Bordi brought Rosie to the hospital.
"It just boils down to neglect," Bordi said.
Rosie had infections that would have raced through her body and killed her by the end of the weekend, Hill said.
Hill said Rosie could have chewed off her leg up to a week ago. Bordi said he thinks she made her way to the empty lot after chewing herself free.
Now, Rosie is on a number of medications to minimize her pain and fight infections until her operation on Feb 27.
Staff will amputate the remainder of her leg, but she is expected to make a full recovery.
After running around the hospital for some 10 to 15 minutes Saturday, Rosie found a spot on her bed and quickly fell asleep.
"She's in a good spot to live a wonderful life," said Hill, noting the hospital will be looking for someone to adopt Rosie.
"She's not dog aggressive, she's not food aggressive, she's not people aggressive."
Compassion For Camden, a nonprofit humane society, is paying for Rosie's recovery, Hill said. References« NJ State Animal Cruelty Map
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