Six puppies mutilated, abandoned at shelter Johnson City, TN (US) Incident Date: Tuesday, Jul 24, 2007 County: Washington Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: » Anthony Smith » Takisha White Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 11837 Classification: Mutilation/Torture Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in TN (US) Login to Watch this Case

Workers at the Washington County/Johnson City Animal Shelter discovered six puppies on July 24, left on the shelter's door step. Two of the puppies were dead. The other four had serious injuries to their tails.

Those four puppies had surgery to mend their wounds Wednesday.

Three bouncing baby boys, and a sleepy little sister. It's a dog's life. But only a couple of days separate this litter from their lives of abuse, and their new lives as happy, healthy puppies.

"All four puppies had to have a tail amputation on July 26 from the injuries they received from their prior owners," Young's Animal Hospital Veterinarian Stephen Strickler said Wednesday.

Strickler said someone tried to dock the puppies' tails by wrapping rubber bands tightly around them. He says they were likely left that way for weeks.

"To see the infection and the appearance of the skin and the tail, I guess disgusting is a good way to put it," Strickler said.

Despite a long surgery Wednesday morning and the abuse they've suffered, Dr. Strickler said the pups will be ready to go to good homes in just a matter of days.

That's good news for Washington County/Johnson City Animal Shelter Director Debbie Dobbs. She discovered the pups on the shelter's door step and described the scene as disgusting.

"It boggles the mind thinking how you could do this," Dobbs said. "It would be the same as taking your finger and putting a rubber band or fishing line around it and waiting for it to rot and fall off."

Four puppies survived the abuse. Dobbs hopes they will go to loving homes. "I pray for them all to have good lives after this and realize that not all humans are there to do things like this,"

Now, with a clean bill of health, the doctor expects the pups to bounce back from their injuries.

"They're all very playful and very friendly. I think if they get into good homes and somebody takes care of them they'll have a very good pet," Strickler said.

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References

Tri-Cities.Com - July 26, 2007

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