Dog shot in the face, thrown from vehicle
Charles City, IA (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Dec 17, 2009
County: Floyd
Disposition: Open
Case Images: 1 files available
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who shot a beagle near Charles City.
The dog, found Dec. 17, had gunshots to her face and leg and was likely thrown from a moving vehicle, the HSUS said.
Doctors had to amputate the injured leg. The dog, named Hope, is recovering at a foster home and is expected to survive.
“Whoever shot this defenseless beagle and dumped her needs to be held accountable for this heinous act of violence,” said Carol Griglione, HSUS’ state director in Iowa. “Animals deserve justice, too.”
Hope’s story is among a rash of animal cruelty reports over the past few years in North Iowa and the region:
• A cat, later named Sparky, was apparently set ablaze late in 2003 in Mason City. He recovered and was adopted by a Mason City family.
• Miracle, a Lab mix, was shot through the mouth and left for dead in a Franklin County field early in 2005. She recovered after three surgeries and was adopted.
• Two poodles, Benny and Lannie, were found neglected and wandering at a Charles City campground in March 2009.
Both dogs recovered and were adopted.
• A house cat was shot last October in the 400 block of North Shore Drive in Clear Lake.
The 20-pound Maine coon was on the front step of its home when it was shot with a pellet gun; a metal pellet was removed but the cat died.
• A cat was found Dec. 18, glued to Interstate 90 in southwestern Minnesota.
The orange tabby had injuries to its feet and nose. It died five days later despite the efforts of veterinarians to save it, according to kttc.com.
An anonymous Yankton, S.D., man is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the case.
Griglione said getting the attention of law enforcement, prosecutors and the community in cases involving allegations of cruelty to animals is necessary to protect communities.
“The connection between animal cruelty and human violence is well documented,” she said. “Studies show a correlation between animal cruelty and all manner of other crimes, from narcotics and firearms violations to battery and sexual assault.”
Case UpdatesHope, the beagle that was found along a Charles City roadway last winter after being shot through the face and leg and likely thrown from a moving vehicle, has finally found her home.
The small beagle was brought to the Humane Society of North Iowa (HSNI) last December by a Good Samaritan who saw the dog tumbling down the side of the road, picked her up and brought her to the shelter. After extensive veterinarian care, which included a leg amputation, Hope spent many weeks recovering from her injuries in a foster home with a Humane Society volunteer.
During her recovery period, HSNI received numerous cards and letters from people with well wishes and prayers for Hope. Monetary donations were also received for Hope to help offset her medical expenses, which were upward of several thousand dollars. "We were able to fully pay for Hope's veterinarian bills," said HSNI Executive Director Sybil Soukup, "with the balance of the donations being put into our Miracle Fund so that we may help future animals with catastrophic injuries like Hope's".
The Miracle Fund was created a few years ago by HSNI in honor of a yellow lab pup that was found abandoned in a snowy Iowa cornfield shot through the mouth and left for dead. She was curled up next to her mother, who had also been brutally shot, but didn't survive. The yellow lab, named Miracle, required extensive surgeries, but survived her ordeal and now serves as a therapy dog to local nursing homes and senior living facilities. Her story inspired the Humane Society to create the "Miracle Fund" to be able to help other animals that came into the shelter with catastrophic injuries. "Unfortunately, the Miracle Fund had a zero balance when Hope came into the shelter", said Soukup, "but we knew we had to help this poor dog and so we hoped that the public would help us, which they did".
Hope's adoption was recently finalized and she is settling in nicely into her new home. Due to the violent nature of her injuries, and the unknown circumstances surrounding them, her adoptive family is choosing to remain anonymous, but are grateful that she survived her horrible ordeal is enjoying watching her live a normal dog's life once again.
"Hope's new family reports that, even with 3 legs, she's fast!" said Soukup. Hope's new family includes 2 other dogs that she loves to play with. "After a long day of playing, Hope likes to curl up for a long nap in her favorite recliner in the safety of her new loving home. We couldn't have asked for a happier ending for this precious dog," said Soukup.
For more information about becoming a foster home for the Humane Society of North Iowa or about contributing to the Miracle Fund, please call the Humane Society of North Iowa at: 641-423-6241. | Source: KWWL - March 30, 2010
Update posted on Mar 31, 2010 - 12:12AM |
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