Bait dog abandoned
Priest River, ID (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Feb 18, 2006
County: Bonner
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for abandoning a severely injured pit bull, possibly used as bait or for training fighting dogs, who was found wandering on Highway 57 near Priest River, Idaho on February 18.
Responding to reports of a loose, injured dog on Highway 57, Priest River Pet Rescue volunteers Larry and Lori Snider picked up the male pit bull. His leg was broken, he had a gaping wound through his lip and mouth, and bite scars and old wounds covered much of his upper body. The wounds were consistent with injuries seen in dog fighting, where dogs are often used as "bait" or for training fighting dogs.
Although Idaho remains one of only two states where this egregious activity is not a felony, law enforcement officials are committed to stamping it out. Bonner County Sheriff Elaine Savage said, "Dog fighting and this form of extreme animal cruelty will not be tolerated in our community, or our state." The dog is recuperating from his injuries and was adopted by a local veterinary technician who assisted with his treatment.
The Bonner County Sheriff's Department is asking anyone with information regarding this case to please contact Bonner County Dispatch at 208-265-5525.
For more information, contact Inga Gibson at the Pacific Northwest Field Office of The HSUS at 206-669-4330, or, Karen L. Allanach at 301-548-7778. If you have information on this case, please contact:
Bonner County Dispatch
208-265-5525
Case UpdatesBait, a pit bull terrier, was rescued from the side of the road in Priest River last year. He was used in illegal dog fighting, and was badly injured.
When Bait first came to the animal doctor in Newport, he was extremely malnourished. He weighed just under 60 pounds and had several broken bones. But, now, one would hardly recognize him.
Even with his short coat, Bait doesn't mind the snow one bit. "Most dogs will spit it out," Tami Zweigler says. "He eats it."
Zweigler first met the three-year old pit bull a year ago while working at a veterinary clinic in Newport. Bait was in bad shape.
"He was such a love, as beat up as he was,," she says. "Sutures, as ugly as he was, it was the personality."
Bait was rescued from the side of a road in Priest River. His face was covered in scars, scratches and open wounds. His back left leg was broken. Those were all signs of illegal dog fighting. Zweigler took him home, with the feeling he might not make it.
"I figured at most he'd be a couch potato," Zweigler said. "A stay at home, mellow type."
However, Bait never gave up. He started slowly gaining weight, and now he weighs almost 79 pounds. And his personality is not what one would expect from a dog that Zweigler believes was abused since he was a puppy.
"He's content, no matter where I take him," she says. "He loves people."
Zweigler now wants to share that love with other people, For the past six months, she has been training Bait to be a therapy dog. He will take a test in February to see if he qualifies.
"He's already a success," Zweigler says, "but that would be the ultimate success, to help other people."
To this day, it's unknown who caused all of Bait's injuries. Anyone with information is asked to call the Bonner County Sheriff's Department. | Source: KXLY - Jan 26, 2007
Update posted on Jan 29, 2007 - 5:02PM |
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