Case Details
Share:

Case Snapshot
Case ID: 14731
Classification: Mutilation/Torture, Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
More cases in Fayette County, PA
More cases in PA
Reward: $6,000
Login to Watch this Case


Images for this Case

For more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.



Dog tied to railroad tracks, to be hit by train
Braddock, PA (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Oct 10, 2008
County: Fayette

Disposition: Open
Case Images: 2 files available

Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A dog that was tied to railroad tracks and left for dead in North Braddock is recuperating at the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society in the North Side.

The boxer, named "Choo-Choo" by Humane Society employees following her near-brush with death, was brought to the shelter after a train engineer found her tied to the middle of tracks Friday evening near Hawkins Avenue and Fourth Street, said Norfolk Southern spokesman Rudy Husband.

The engineer, on a train passing in the opposite direction, saw the dog and called railroad police, who shut down the tracks for a short time, Husband said.

"She's emaciated. She's basically skin over bones," said Lee Nesler, executive director of the Humane Society.

Humane Society spokeswoman Gretchen Fieser said the dog recently gave birth to puppies and was nearly dead from starvation, but is on a feeding program. Employees treated her for diseases and gave her a bath.

"It's hard for most normal people to grasp. It's so appalling, you just can't figure it out," Fieser said. "It's just a despicable, disgusting and gross thing for somebody to do."

The Humane Society has received dozens of calls from people wanting to adopt Choo-Choo after seeing her on a television news spot, but the dog's recovery will take weeks, Fieser said.

"She's doing really well, given the circumstances. She's very sweet, shy and wide-eyed. She likes anybody that feeds her."

Fieser said Choo-Choo's life already is better.

"A woman called today and was crying on the phone with me," she said. "I told her this dog is very lucky. Whatever situation she came from, she is now saved from that. She'll never have to go back."

The Humane Society is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the person who tied Choo-Choo to the tracks. People can give information anonymously by calling 412-321-4625, ext. 215.

If you have information on this case, please contact:
412-321-4625 xt 215


Case Updates

Animal control officials said an alert train engineer saved the life of a dog tied to some railroad tracks, and the reward for finding the person who did it is now up to $6,000.

A dog that Humane Society officials are calling "Choo-Choo" was found in North Braddock at Hawkins Avenue and Fourth Street, deliberately tied to the middle of the railroad tracks.

Officials said an engineer passing in a train going the opposite direction spotted the dog and called for help.

Animal control kept the animal for 48 hours and then gave her to the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society.

Gretchen Fieser of the Humane Society said Choo-Choo is very sweet, but also very scared. The animal was unable to escape from the railroad tracks and Fieser said it was clear Choo-Choo was left there to die.

"There were actually knots, as well as dirt from underneath the tracks, dug up so they could wrap it around the track," Fieser said of the rope holding the animal.

"Obviously somebody who tied this dog to the railroad tracks, obviously not a very kind person. I mean, the dog would have died a horrible, horrible death. She would have been struck by a train," Fieser said.

Fieser said the dog had recently been nursing, but they have no idea where her puppies are. Choo-Choo needs nutrition. Once she's healthy, the Humane Society said she'll be ready for adoption.

"We need to get some weight on her, she needs to get dewormed, deflead. We're watching her mammary glands, which are very full with milk. When a dog normally weans its puppies, they do it slowly over a period of time," Fieser said.

On Thursday, the Humane Society said Choo-Choo is doing better and eating a number of small meals each day.

The original reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who tied Choo-Choo to the train tracks was $500. But donations from the community have pushed the amount to $6,000.
Source: The Pittsburgh Channel - Oct 16, 2008
Update posted on Oct 16, 2008 - 6:19PM 

References

  • - Oct 16, 2008
  • « PA State Animal Cruelty Map
    « More cases in Fayette County, PA

    Add to GoogleNot sure what these icons mean? Click here.

    Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.

    For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.



    Send this page to a friend
© Copyright 2001-2011 Pet-Abuse.Com. All rights reserved. Site Map ¤ Disclaimer ¤ Privacy Policy