Puppy thrown off highway bridge
Totz, KY (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Jul 2, 2009
County: Harlan
Disposition: Alleged
Abuser names unreleased
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
A juvenile could be facing felony animal cruelty charges after allegedly throwing a dog from a Totz bridge.
According to Harlan County Animal Control Officer Duncan Caldwell, officials from the Harlan County Humane Society discovered the black cocker spaniel in the weeds below a bridge after a witness reported the alleged crime to the Kentucky State Police.
Totzie, as she was later named, was reportedly seen by passer-by Sherry Bush being thrown from a bridge on U.S. 119 near the Totz exit by a juvenile, whose name is not being released. Caldwell said humane society workers searched for an hour before finding Totzie, who had crawled out of the river and was hiding in weeds.
The 6-month old dog was taken the Harlan Animal Hospital where it was found she had a fractured pelvis after an estimated 30-foot drop from the bridge.
Officials aren't taking the situation lightly.
"Someone made a conscious decision to stand on a bridge and toss a puppy into the river," said Duncan. "We see a lot of different cases of animals coming in here ... but what makes this unique is that it's criminal."
Harlan County special projects coordinator Dan Mosley, who personally delivered Totzie to the animal hospital, said the case has been handed to the Harlan County Sheriff's Office and that all agencies involved would pursue the case "to the fullest extent of the law."
"It was a stupid act. It takes a sick person to do what was done here," said Mosley.
According to a statement by Bush, the juvenile said he threw the animal from the bridge because it was sick, said Mosley.
But Mosley contests the dog was in good health when it was found.
"There's nothing wrong with it other than now it has a fractured pelvis," said Mosley.
Caldwell and Mosley said the juvenile could be charged with some degree of animal cruelty and also suggested the case may fall under "Romeo's Law," which makes the torture of animal that result in "serious physical injury" a Class D felony.
Mosley said he couldn't understand why a person would feel they had no other choice than to do what was allegedly done.
"There's no fee to surrender an animal to the shelter. Anybody who wants can bring them here," said Mosley. "They don't have to sit them off on the top of Pine Mountain, or throw them off a bridge like was done here. Unfortunately, every animal does not leave here alive, but they are treated humanely and they are euthanized humanely."
Case UpdatesTwo boys are facing animal abuse charges after a dog was thrown off a bridge in Harlan County.
You might remember a couple of weeks ago, officials say a cocker spaniel puppy was thrown of the Totz bridge on Highway 119 in Harlan County.
Animal control officials were able to rescue the pup, and named it Totzie.
Officials say police have now charged two boys seen on the bridge at the time of the incident.
Court dates for them are not yet set.
Totzie is expected to fully recover. | Source: WKYT - July 7, 2009
Update posted on Jul 20, 2009 - 1:28PM |
Officials say a teenage boy is facing charges after throwing a dog off a bridge on Highway 119. They say it happened Tuesday in the Totz community of Harlan County.
Sherry Bush says she was driving on Highway 119 when she saw two boys on the side of the road.
"I looked and seen the dog's legs kicking, and they were up on the rail, and the next thing I know the dog was gone, and they were running," says Bush.
She says by the time she was able to turn around, it was too late.
"They said it's sick. I said that's no reason to throw the dog off the bridge, and one of the boys said we couldn't get in touch with police or take it to a doctor. I said so, you still didn't have to throw it off the bridge ... I'm calling police," says Bush.
Bush says she gave police a description of a pick-up truck she says picked up the two boys. She then was surprised to see that the dog survived.
"You could tell it was hurt and shaking like it was freezing or something, and I felt so sorry for it. I couldn't get down there to get it," says Bush.
"She couldn't stand, sit up, she was limp, seemed to be in a lot of pain," says Harlan County Animal Control officer Duncan Caldwell.
Animal control officials rescued the puppy, which they are naming Totzie, after the Totz bridge she was thrown off. They say she likely has a broken pelvis, and lots of bruises, but she can now standup and walk again. Officials say the cocker spaniel puppy was most likely healthy before the incident. They say if someone had not been driving by at the right time, she probably would have not survived.
"The dog would still be laying there, emaciated, it would've starved to death and died," says Caldwell.
But now Totzie is being treated and expected live. Officials say an orthopedic doctor will be taking a look at her to see what kind of treatment she needs. Totzie will then be taken to The Woodstock Foundation in Lexington where she will be cared for further until she is ready for adoption.
Police say they have identified the boy they believe is responsible for actually dropping the dog off the bridge, but they are not identifying the suspect since he is under 18. They say an arrest will come soon. Officials say they plan to pursue charges to the fullest extent of the law. The teen could face felony animal cruelty charges under the new Romeo Law in Kentucky.
Those interested in Totzie should call Friends of the Shelter at (606) 573-8867. The address is Friends of the Shelter, Box 778, Baxter, Kentucky, 40806. | Source: WKYT - July 2, 2009
Update posted on Jul 20, 2009 - 1:27PM |
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