Animal Abuse Stories: A Burn Victims Happy Ending: a dog's tale
72Reporting Animal Abuse: The Beginning
I was so incredibly appalled when I ran across the article a couple years ago from Michigan Humane Society in Detroit! A one year old Pit Bull Terrier/Shepherd mix was severely burned by an unknown suspect. The dog was found by its owner as it started to bark/scream and completely engulfed by flames on Halloween night. The dog rolled around and put the fire out itself, but was in severe pain as you can see in the picture below. They learned later that the dog had been doused with gasoline and lit on fire. Apparently, this was someone's twisted idea of a Halloween prank. As one article put it, "what happened to the good ol' days of egging and toilet papering someone's house." Such an act is dispicable, and such a far cry from a prank.
Animal Abuse Pictures
Treatment for Dog's Burn: Condition Worsens
A week after this horrific act, and once Lady's condition worsened, the owner surrendered Lady to the Humane Society, which I can only imagine was a heart wrenching decision. This decision was most likely due to the financial obligation of dealing with a dog who is in Lady's condition. They probably had to decide whether they should put her down, or give Lady a chance to be cared for by someone who was capable of handling her condition.
Treating burns like this is a time consuming process that costs thousands of dollars. The main concern when there are severe burns is that infections of the skin will occur, due to having no skin barrier to protect the dog. Fortunately, or unfortunately, dependent on how you look at it, the team working with Lady have worked on dog burns before, which allowed the best outcome possible for Lady.
Pictures of Animal Abuse
Cases of Animal Abuse Are Too Numerous
According to the veterinarians and vet techs that cared for Lady, Lady was the sweetest kindest dog they have in their care. Unfortunately, it will take thousands of dollars to help Lady get the treatment she needs for her badly burned skin, which most of it is on her face. From the very beginning they were optimistic about Lady's outcome, since they did find some good skin cells near the damaged areas, yet anytime a person or dog is burned that severely, complications can arise. Even after a few short weeks, the dog was doing emotionally well, and would encourage the caretakers to rub her ching. She was very friendly and alert.
My heart totally broke when I saw this dog, and I could not believe how any person could be so cruel. I just don't have words to express what I think of a person who could do such a hideous cruel act! A person who would act in such cruelty to a dog, very well may abuse or kill a person. Normal mentally healthy people would never do something like this.
Dog Survival Story: A Happy Ending For Lady and Children Burn Victims
Lady has found a forever home. Gretchen Kohsmann, a woman who is works as a fire investigator took him home. She also directs a Burn Victim Camp in Lansing, which is a refuge for children who have become victims of fire and suffered severe burns. She will live with Gretchen, her two children and two dogs in their home most of the year, except when the camp is running where she will be able to be an inspiration to the dozens of children who are finding comfort at the camp. The hope is that the children who meet Lady will feel a little less alone with her presence, to know that they are not alone in their suffers. As Lady and her new owner left, the fire department who found Lady and many of the investigators were there to say goodbye.
CommentsLoading...
No kidding, someone who could do something like that to a dog, would someday progress to harming people. They should be confined for a lot longer than law probably allows in the case of animal abuse. I don't know what the actual maximum punishment is for such behavior.
This is just horrible. I can barely stand to look at the pictures of this innocent puppy, but at the same time I just want to give it a big hug.
I can't imagine what really motivates someone to do such things, but you are correct with your statement that it will likely progress. Especially if this crime was committed by an adolescent.
My heart is really hurting for this poor dog. :(
Thank you for sharing this and I will do the same.
peopple are sick this makes me very angrey that someone could do this that poor dog who ever did this needs to be locked up for a very long time
cwarden, my heart hurts too for the dog. I wish there was something that I could do for it. I want to hug it too. The first time I saw the dog I wanted to look away, but then I couldn't help just looking at it. How cruel!!!
Jasper I actually recently read that someone who did this same thing got six months in jail and owed a five hundred dollar fine, and had probation for I don't remember how long. Totally doesn't fit the crime.
Oh. my God1 How could he/she do this to this helpless animal?!!! The person who did this has no conscience or sympathy at all or maybe under the influence of drugs?!!!
My thoughts exactly. It makes me sick whenever I think about it.
Someone needs to find whomever did this and set them on fire!
It is absolutely horrible that anyone would do this isn't it.
This breaks my heart, as I can see it does so many others. I shared your hub on my facebook page and hope everyone else who has a page does too. I can't help this poor little sweetie, but maybe, like you said, we can all get the word out, so someone who can sees her and knows she needs them.
Thank you for writing this hub.
Your welcome. I am hoping the same thing. :)
I cant undertsand why people treat helpless animals in this way... It sickens me to think they got away with it... Nice Hub Though
Yes, I know what you mean. Here I am trying to nurse my cat back to health, and crying over it being sick. I just can't understand how someone could possibly abuse a cat like that. You know if they are willing to do that to a dog, that its not too much farther to do that to a human.
Oh Angela, this is just heartbreaking and sickening. How could anyone do such a thing? How can they look at themselves in the mirror; what must go through such a person's mind during the quiet am hours when not sleeping? I think it takes quite a bit of self loathing to do such a heinous thing to a defenseless animal. I am in total agreement with your feelings and reaction to this pathetic story. Bless the Veterinarians who are helping this baby. You have done a wonderful thing writing about this and spreading the word. Thank you so much. Kathy aka Lucky Cats
Kathy, I wonder if there is an update out there. I should check on that. But yes, it is such a heineous thing! I think if a person can do this to a dog, then they are capable of doing it to a person. I think in this case, they should be treated the same as if they had harmed a human. And this is coming from someone who does not feel animals should be held as equal to human.
How could anyone do such a wrong thing! how would they like it if i lit them on fire! It bs Cats Dogs all anamlis are just like us they have rights to do what they want and anyone that hurts them can go the He11
I think your sentiments are shared by a vast majority.
- http://www.examiner.com/dogs-in-national/detroit-dog-burned-1000-reward-now-offered
- http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2010/11/09/news/doc4cd94c9a7ffb5128997138.txt?viewmode=3
- http://www.michiganhumane.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=16964
dahoglund Level 7 Commenter 18 months ago
Some people seem to be just plain sadistic. We ourselves have adopted a shelter dog that had some sort of abuse of neglect which makes her very shy of people. Not as bad as the one you describe which should result in some sort of confinemnet for the perpetrator.