 Neglected puppy shot multiple times
Hollywood, FL (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Jun 15, 2006
County: Hendry
Disposition: Open
Case Images: 9 files available
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available |
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A Great Dane puppy is fighting for his life after being shot three or four times.
A volunteer for the Allen Babcock Dog and Cat Rescue spotted the dog, who has been named B.J., on the side of the road in Hendry County on the night of June 15 and rushed him to Hollywood Animal Hospital for lifesaving treatment.
He had been shot through the nose, jaw, foot and groin.
�This is a shame to have a pet go through this, to have somebody, be it kids or hunters, playing or just trying to kill him with a gun,� said Dr. James Dee of Hollywood Animal Hospital.
"Unfortunately, in 32 years we�ve seen a lot and this pretty much ranks with some of the worst.�
Besides his shot wounds, the 6-month-old Great Dane is unable to walk and is so emaciated that his bones almost protrude through his skin.
Allen Babcock, founder of the rescue organization, said that the dog was 50 percent underweight and will require more surgery.
�He�s loaded with ticks. His back leg doesn�t work,� he said. �It just goes on and on. There are a lot of problems.�
�The wounds will be tough to get under control,� Dee said.
Despite the cruelty he has experienced, Dee and Babcock said the puppy still has a sweet disposition and a strong will to live.
�He�s been trying to play. He�s wagging his tail," Dee said. "It�s amazing to think that somebody who had this number of injuries inflicted on him could have this good of an attitude.�
Doctors said the puppy will need three or four surgeries and may be able to be adopted in the coming months. The abuser has not been caught.
If you would like to help B.J. or other rescued animals, contact Allen Babcock Dog and Cat Rescue.
Allen Babcock Dog and Cat Rescue
P.O. Box 381901
Miami, FL 33238
305-787-7353
Case UpdatesHe shouldn't be this friendly, not with his jaw broken and a bullet wound to his groin still healing. And there's no reason for this dog, held together by tape, wire and painful operations, to still be wagging his tail and nuzzling up to strangers.
Of course, there's no reason anyone for anyone to pump four bullets into a 6-month-old puppy and leave him for dead, but that's what happened. Not much about the brutal treatment of BJ the Great Dane or his remarkable recovery makes much sense, those around him said.
"When they presented him, I had to question whether they wanted to do this [try to save him], because they could have saved 20 other animals for the money involved,'' said Dr. James Dee, of the Hollywood Animal Hospital. "But when you see him running around and how happy and good-natured he is, then obviously it was the right decision.''
The decision -- and everything about the puppy's care -- was made by Allen Babcock Dog & Cat Rescue, which found BJ dying in a Hendry County field three weeks ago. The rescue group, which handles only severely abused dogs and cats, brought BJ to the Hollywood hospital and picked up the tab.
Even with a significant discount, the cost will be several thousand dollars.
A volunteer for the rescue group was riding an all-terrain vehicle in Hendry County about three weeks ago when she stopped for a break. Suddenly, BJ crawled out from behind a rock, his left eye closed and his face disfigured. Doctors estimate he had been lying there for several days.
"He was severely emaciated and had intestinal parasites when he arrived," said Dee, who first treated the puppy. "He had gunshots to the nose, the left jaw, the [foreskin], and one to the right rear paw that went through and broke two bones.''
Dr. Larry Dee, James' brother, operated on BJ, removing portions of his jaw and seven teeth, tending to the groin wound and putting screws into the dog's hind leg. BJ apparently will have no permanent damage to his eye and will regain almost full mobility, although he will always face minor complications with his jaw, James Dee said.
The black puppy with huge ears was released from the hospital on Wednesday. He'll stay with Cheryl Szary, the rescue group's vice president, until he heals, then will be put up for adoption.
"The cruelty we see out there, there's just no excuse for it,'' said Szary, of Plantation. "We usually get calls from police officers, who go into a home and see a dog who is dying or has been badly abused. We really take only the animals who would be euthanized otherwise. BJ was very, very bad when we got him.''
Szary said the organization is already taking names of people wanting to adopt BJ, and will screen applicants and conduct a home study to make sure it's a good fit. As for the name BJ, Szary has an explanation and a small regret.
"I had a BJ's Wholesale bag on my kitchen table when he got here, so that's what I called him,'' Szary said. "But I really wish I had named him Spirit, because that's what he really has.''
Anyone wishing more information about BJ can contact Allen Babcock, the rescue group's founder, at 305-787-7353. | Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel - July 1, 2006
Update posted on Jul 5, 2006 - 6:25PM |
A Great Dane puppy, who survived being shot four times, was released from an animal hospital Wednesday for a second chance at life.
The 7-month-old puppy, nicknamed "B.J.," was released into foster care for the duration of his recovery.
�B.J.� was spotted seen near Clewiston two weeks ago, by a volunteer for Allen Babcock Dog and Cat Rescue in Miami. He had been shot through the nose, jaw, foot and groin.
The volunteer drove 80 miles to the Hollywood Animal Hospital, where veterinarian James Dee began emergency treatment. He�s undergone two surgeries, on his back leg and his jaw, and still has a long road to recovery ahead of him. He�s extremely malnourished but is eating and gaining weight.
Despite the cruelty he has experienced, �B.J� has a sweet disposition. He�s happy and has a great attitude. He can�t even stand up, but he�s always wagging his tail.
His veterinarian says �this pup�s got a lot of heart and he�s just been healing tremendously.�
The animal rescuers are still hoping to find out who injured the dog.
Florida law makes it a third-degree felony to intentionally hurt an animal.
The rescue group taking care of him, Allan Babcock Dog and Cat Rescue, is looking for a home for �B.J.�
You can meet "B.J." Saturday from Noon until 2:00 p.m. at the PetSmart located at 12051 West Sunrise Boulevard.
Babcock started his no-kill non-profit animal rescue group two decades ago.
If you would like to adopt �B.J� or other rescued animals or if you'd just like to make a tax-deductible donation to help cover costs, you can send donations to:
Allen Babcock Dog & Cat Rescue, Inc.
PO Box 381901
Miami, FL 33238-1901 | Source: CBS4 - June 28, 2006
Update posted on Jun 28, 2006 - 6:46PM |
References« FL State Animal Cruelty Map
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