Dog found with third-degree burns covering body
Austin, TX (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Jan 1, 2009
County: Travis
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
An Austin non-profit is working to heal a burn victim. "Honey", a Labrador mix, was found in a trailer park with third-degree burns over 30 percent of her body.
"Honey" was also on the city's euthanasia list. Now, Austin Pets Alive! is looking to get Honey's burns healed, while at the same time finding her a home.
Honey made one of what will be many trips to the veterinarian on Monday [Jan 5, 2009] when KVUE News visited her.
"Her feet are severely burned. You can see the bones in one of her feet. She's missing probably 90 percent of the skin on two of her feet -- it's really bad," said Ellen Jefferson, Austin Pets Alive! veterinarian.
Honey was found last week in a Southeast Austin trailer park. Veterinarians believe she was intentionally burned with some type of chemical.
"The only thing I could think of that would not be intentional would be if she bumped into a table with a big vat of acid on top of it. But I don't know how many people leave something like that out," said Jefferson.
When the city's animal shelter knew it would have to put Honey down, Austin Pets Alive! took her in, started care and found her a foster mom.
"I work in the veterinary industry, so I'm kind of used to dealing with medical issue with dogs. Of course this is a little more stomach turning than most, but I wasn't phased by it and I'm happy to help her," said Robyn Roberts, foster mom.
Honey is probably the worst case they can take and still turn the dog around. And they are surrounded by inspiration. A small Schnauzer-mix named "Phoenix" was brutally beaten, forced to eat detergent and near death last year. Today, he happily runs around at the vet's office as if nothing happened.
"I've been shocked over and over again just how well they cope with things that happen to them," said Jefferson.
For at least the next month or two, Roberts will continue to foster Honey.
"She's just been a sweet dog. You wouldn't know she had these injuries if you just saw her face," Roberts said.
After that, Honey will be ready for a new family -- one that hopefully will give her a long happy life after what has been a rough start.
You can follow Honey's progress on Austin Pets Alive! web site. Her foster mom writes a Case UpdatesHoney, the dog who was shot with a pellet gun and found with severe burns on her body has been adopted by a local family. The one-year-old Labrador mix was found last month wandering in a trailer park with severe burns to 30 percent of her body.
Doctors also found a pellet under those wounds. Honey was so badly burned there was concern that she'd need amputations, but thanks to a caring foster family and local rescue group, Austin Pets Alive, she has recovered and has a new home. | Source: MyFox Austin - March 1, 2009
Update posted on Mar 2, 2009 - 10:15AM |
A lab mix who suffered severe burns will soon be adopted, an Austin non-profit rescue group announced Wednesday.
The one-year-old dog, named "Honey," was taken in by Austin Pets Alive after she was found wandering in a trailer park. The dog had deep burns on her torso and feet and had been hit with a pellet from a pellet gun. The organization has been working with local veterinarians and taking donations in order to help the dog recover.
A foster mother has taken Honey to regular vet visits and hydrotherapy sessions.
Several families have contacted Austin Pets Alive about adopting Honey, and the dog's foster mother is in the process of selecting the family, the group said.
Austin Pets Alive says it saves an average of 140 pets a month from being euthanized. More than 8,000 animals are euthanized in Austin each year. | Source: TXCN - Feb 4, 2009
Update posted on Mar 2, 2009 - 10:14AM |
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