Pit bull found with ingrown collar, dragging chain
Atlanta, GA (US)Incident Date: Monday, Aug 14, 2006
County: Fulton
Disposition: Open
Case Images: 2 files available
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Patrick, the year-old brindle pit bull shimmies and wiggles as he walks out the front door for a walk. He is your typical young dog -- too excited to stand still, but when you take a close look at his neck it stops you in your tracks.
A thick swath of shaved hair sets off a wide row of stitches. Underneath remains an open gash still too infected to close up with sutures. It is a case of animal cruelty so severe the Humane Society of the United States has stepped in offering a $2,500 dollar reward to anyone who can help them find the people responsible.
A resident found Patrick on August 14 wandering the streets of the Ormewood neighborhood in east Atlanta dragging a chain behind him with an attached chain link collar imbedded into his flesh.
Mickensey Johnson has been fostering dogs and a volunteering with Second Chance Animal Rescue for seven years and says Patrick's case is all too common.
"That does not happen overnight. It takes months for it to grow into the necks like that. He must have been tied out somewhere in the weather as a young puppy. He grew, but the chain didn't," said Johnson.
Patrick's medical bills now top $1,500 and he's not out of the woods yet. He's still recovering from malnutrition and he's taking a variety of prescriptions for pain, swelling and infections.
"It's going to be a long recovery for him. It will be at least four to six weeks until the neck wound completely heals and the emotional recover will take a lot longer than that," suggested Johnson.
Volunteers do believe a full recovery is not just possible, but probably.
"One of the things I was most struck by when I first met Patrick is how happy and wonderful he was. He wasn't aggressive or standoffish. He was very friendly. He knew he was safe and when dogs feel safe they come out of their shell," remembered Johnson.
She and other longtime volunteers still marvel at what she says is a quality dogs have in spades over humans-the ability and easy willingness to forgive.
"Somebody did something extremely horrible to him and yet he is loving and friendly to everyone he meets," boasts Johnson.
As for the person who chained Patrick up, the Humane Society and Dekalb County Animal Control officers are not so forgiving. If and when a person is arrested on animal cruelty charges they are likely facing felony charges. Anyone with information in the case is asked to call investigators at 404-294-2996. If you have information on this case, please contact:
Dekalb County Animal Control
404-294-2996
References« GA State Animal Cruelty Map
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