He's a quiet, gentle, loving creature, nicknamed Pete by those who are helping him. He is a black Labrador about 1 1/2 years old with a mellow disposition. The question on everyone's mind: How did Pete's paws get chopped?? It began March 15, 2006 when two women from Poplar brought the dog to Tulare County Animal Control at Lovers Lane and Avenue 256. When Michelle Shanley, a volunteer coordinator with the animal control, saw him, he had a sock tied with a shoestring around his right paw. "I've seen some pretty awful things but I've never seen the way [his paw] was chopped off," she said. "It just looked like it was chopped off. I looked at him and thought this is terrible." Pete allowed animal control to look at him and never once growled. "He just licked our faces," Shanley said. "Believe it or not, I can't believe what a good dog he is." Given the nature of his injuries, Shanley said she considered "putting him down." "But then he looked at me and he brought me to tears, and I just couldn't do it. I just want to give him a chance," she said.
But her specialty is rescuing dogs who might otherwise be euthanized, so she helps place animals with rescuers who will not kill them but help find them homes. Animal control centers like Tulare County's don't handle serious injuries like Pete's so Shanley began making calls to people who are involved in rescues. Animal rescuers are people who foster dogs and cats in their homes or in no-kill shelters until full-time homes can be found.
Eventually she found Jim Webb, secretary of Love of Animals in Visalia. Love of Animals is a nonprofit organization that takes in animals to find them homes and also helps low-income families spay and neuter their pets. "He's such a quiet, gentle loving creature," Webb said. The seriousness of Pete's condition was apparent to everyone. What wasn't clear was how it happened. "If it was equipment, it would have to be a propeller spinning off the ground," Webb said. "It would have to move so fast. I don't know anything that could move like that." The collarless animal was taken to Companion Animal Medical Center in Visalia to receive treatment with Love of Animals footing the bill. The next step is to put Pete on antibiotics and pain killers with a full amputation to the shoulder required for the right leg. The center is treating him by soaking his leg in a saline solution and keeping him on antibiotics and painkillers, said Laura Dennis, a veterinarian technician with Companion Animal Medical Center in Visalia.
A microchip was discovered in the dog's fur and the owner was traced to Los Angeles. The owner has a home in Porterville and Los Angeles and was notified of his dog's plight. "The owner is vague about a lot of things," Dennis said. "He wasn't interested in seeing the dog. He wouldn't even give me his name." The dog apparently had been adopted from a Los Angeles Shelter and was chipped there. Though the center is not certain if the cut is abuse, they must now wait to see what the owner wants done. The owner can sign over rights of the dog to Love of Animals, which will take over the care and treatment of Pete and find him a good home. The owner has said he will try to be at the center in Visalia on March 17, 2006.
"We're going to do some serious talking to the owner before he takes the dog," Dennis said. But news of Pete's plight has already begun to spread through the state via animal lovers. B.J. Motko is with the Central Valley Rescue Railroad which is an affiliate of Love of Animals. Motko was on her way out of town for work when she received Shanley's call. "[Michelle] was very hedgy," Motko said. "[Michelle said] I think someone has done this to the dog." So Motko sprang into action by contacting Webb but understands it is an uphill battle. "You can't save them all, but there is one thing that touches your heart," Motko said. "These decisions are emotional. It takes something like this to bring awareness to our community. It's a huge win."
Love of Animals is asking anyone who would like to help Pete to make donations payable to LOA, marked "for Pete" and send them to Love of Animals, PO Box 6344, Visalia CA 93290. Information: Jim Webb 798-2377 or 974-2233. Online: www.loveofanimals.org If you have information on this case, please contact:
Love of Animals
www.loveofanimals.org
798-2377
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