Firecracker inserted in dog's rectal cavity
Indianapolis, IN (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Jun 30, 2001
County: Marion

Disposition: Open

Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

A 2-year old Basenji mixed named "Spirit" by the Humane Society of Indianapolis was found near 38th Street and Moeller Road by Mary Gittinger.

Mary Gittinger said she was getting out her car and the dog must have slipped by her because there she was inside the car. Gittinger said, "She was all messy and hurt, and she was crying."

"I felt so badly for her, because whenever we touched her or moved her, she cried. We had no idea that (the firecrackaer) was what hurt her. We thought she had been hit by a car."

Christina Dickerson, media relations coordinator for the society, says, "She is doing terrific, as well as could possibly be, considering what she's gone through."

Dickerson said she has been named Spirit because she is truly amazing. "Despite all the pain, she still wags her tail when you pet her. She has so much spirit, she's so kind."

Spirit was burned on the posterior, legs, and mouth by a firecracker that appears to have been deliberately inserted in her rectal cavity.

The staff at the veterinary clinic is hopeful she will fully recover but she's not out of the woods yet, there's always the risk of infection. It is not known how long the recovery process will take.

Officer Steve Schafer said the Indianapolis Police Department has no leads yet and needs help from the community.

Schaefer says, "I need to find the owner of the dog; or anyone who may know who the dog belongs to."

Spirit was wearing a collar with no address tag when found. She is polite, loves people and is well fed and taken care of.

Roger Rayl of the state prosecutor's office said such abuse to an animal is considered animal cruelty, a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail.

If Spirit's owners are not found, she might become available for adoption.

If you have information on this case, please contact:
Humane Society

References

• The Indianapolis Star - July 10, 2001

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