CM orders inquiry in tiger count decline in Pilibhit

“Something like this would ring alarm bells to me, what or who is causing such a decrease in the number of tigers? If there was only 23 last year, what is the current number & where have these tigers gone. Is it poachers or hunters, the numbers are declining too fast for it to be of a natural death!! Something has to be done to find out why there is a decline in numbers & get onto it ASAP before these majestic tigers have gone for good!!!”

Keshav Agarwal,TNN | Nov 26, 2014, 10.05 PM IST

PILIBHIT: Taking cognizance of the matter related to rapid decrease in number of tigers in Pilibhit Tiger Reserve in three years, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has decided to set up an enquiry in the matter.

Special secretary to the chief minister, GS Naveen Kumar, has referred the matter to the principal secretary of the forest department for taking further steps, MLA Hemraj Verma told TOI.

The issue was raised by the SP MLA from district Pilibhit, who had written to the chief minister in the third week of November. He had said that the forest department had counted more than 40 tigers in the forest area of Pilibhit district in 2010 and the figure had dwindled to 30 in 2012. The count had further declined to 23 in 2013, he had pointed out.

Retired chief wildlife warden Mohammad Ahsan welcomed the move and said special emphasis should be placed on the counting of tigers also in the adjoining Surai forest range of Uttarakhand and parts of Shahjahanpur district. This would help in determining whether the tigers of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, especially the mother big cats, have not migrated to other forest regions to find safe habitats for their cubs or in search of easy prey.

An environmentalist from Pilibhit, Parvez Hanif, said that the investigation of missing tigers in PTR would not be complete if the process of capturing foot-prints of tigers was not applied simultaneously with picture capturing method through cameras.

He observed that the method of collecting footprints of tigers, which he claimed was applicable till 2007, , can assist the investigation team reach more exact conclusions.

The vice president of Wildlife Biodiversity Conservation Society Amitabh Agnihotri said that the investigation team should find out the effects of human encroachment on the tiger population and devise ways to reduce such interference.

News Link:-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/articleshow/45288095.cms?intenttarget=no

Kaziranga; Elephant Killed In Tiger Attack

Surely this could have been prevented? The park officials were treating the elephant, they knew it was weak, why didn’t they keep it protected? Another four including  a calf were injured by tigers; the elephants are used to patrol the parks…when not working (in an area where tigers are known to kill)  the elephants should have had some level of protection from tigers; even if it meant keeping them behind bars, there owners should have kept them safe!! I can only presume the elephants were chained or left in an open area; where tigers could get easy access!!! One can’t blame the tigers, it is nature! But a working animal (as much as I hate them being worked) should at the very least, be kept safe & away from harm, when not working!!

TNN | Oct 22, 2014, 06.00 AM IST

Eastern India; JORHAT: A 28-year-old elephant fell prey to a group of tigers at Kaziranga National Park on Tuesday. ‘Konwar’, the pachyderm, was attacked by a herd of tigers in the Mihimukh area of the park under the Kohora forest range when it was grazing there.

Park officials said the elephant was not keeping well and was under treatment. “Konwar had become weak and could not fight back,” said divisional forest officer (Kaziranga) S K Seal Sharma. The veterinarians have conducted a post mortem on the carcass and are awaiting the reports.

Another park official, who spotted the carcass near the Mihimukh anti-poaching camp, said, “Konwar was missing since Saturday morning. We had launched a search operation in the area and found Konwar lying dead around 1.30 pm. We saw four tigers roaming near the carcass.” According to records available with the park authorities, the elephant was brought here from Sonitpur district in 1986 when it was less than a year old.

Konwar was trained and the park started using it in anti-poaching operations and patrolling from 1994. The park staff mourned its death. In September four elephants, including a calf, sustained injuries in tiger attacks at Mihimukh near the second tower in the same forest range.

News Link:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Kaziranga-elephant-killed-in-tiger-attack/articleshow/44902721.cms?intenttarget=no&utm_source=TOI_AShow_OBWidget&utm_medium=Int_Ref&utm_campaign=TOI_AShow

Success! Charges in Dog Dragging Case Upgraded to Felony Cruelty

By Susan Bird – December 23, 2013

The efforts of compassionate Care2 readers have helped changed the course of an animal cruelty prosecution.

An incredible recovery & a Misdemeanor charge now changed to a Felony. Kudos to all that helped this happen

The man accused of dragging a young pit bull for more than a mile behind his pickup truck in late November now faces a felony rather than a misdemeanor criminal charge.

Andra Grace is recovering nicely.

Deputy Omar Yahya of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office said Roger Dennis Owens was charged with felony “ill treatment of animals” on December 17, according to Fox Carolina News.

Owens had originally been arrested on December 6 and charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of only 90 days in jail and an $800 fine.

“The felony charge comes with a much stiffer penalty if the suspect is convicted,” Yahya said.

In addition, Owens is now charged with two counts of driving under suspension and two counts of being a habitual traffic offender. The felony cruelty charge could bring Owens from six months to five years in prison. If convicted of multiple offenses, he may face significantly more time.

Why the shift from misdemeanor to felony charge? There seems to be only one answer. People like you — many, many people like you — used social media, e-mails, letters and phone calls to call for sterner charges for this harrowing crime. Greenville County heard the outcry, took a closer look and seems to have decided stronger charges were warranted.

Andra Grace: Wagging Her Tail and Recovering

Meanwhile, Andra Grace is recovering nicely. Though she was badly injured, her condition is so much improved that has moved to her new foster home in time for Christmas, according to the Justice for Andra Grace Facebook page.

Want to see how happy and well Andra Grace is now? The Justice for Andra Grace Facebook page has posted this video, as well as many others, so well wishers can keep up with her remarkable recovery. Rescuers were able to recover four of Andra Grace’s puppies as well. They are doing well and will accompany her to their new foster location.

Andra Grace’s puppies, resting before their trip to their new foster home

A Heartwarming Reunion with Two Special Women

Andra Grace had two special visitors on December 19. Kaye Skinner and Jennefer Bullock, the two women who reported seeing Andra Grace being dragged behind the truck, were reunited with her.

According to the Justice for Andra Grace Facebook page, when Kaye and Jennefer saw the pickup truck go by them in the opposite direction, dragging a helpless dog behind it, they turned around to follow it. After the truck sped away without the dog, they searched the roadway until they found her.

Kaye and Jennefer called police and stayed by Andra Grace for the two hours it took for help to arrive. They covered her battered, bloody form with a jacket while trying to soothe her. It might break your heart a little to know that Kaye and Jennefer say poor Andra Grace was wagging her tail as they did what they could to help her.

Kaye Skinner and Jennefer Bullock are reunited with a much recovered Andra Grace

Andra Grace is now happily settled in her new foster home, where her two foster parents are both veterinarians. She’s getting a lot of loving care and is well on her way to a contented and satisfying life. Likewise, her now-weaned puppies are in foster homes and can look forward to long, happy lives.

Care2 readers, your signatures on our petition helped turn the tide with respect to the crime committed against this gentle and loving dog. Your outrage, coupled with a deluge of phone calls and e-mails to Greenville County officials, appears to have convinced authorities to take a closer look at this case. Now Roger Owens is charged with a felony. The possible punishment he faces for this heinous act of cruelty is considerably increased.

May justice prevail for Andra Grace and for all abused animals.

News Link:- http://www.care2.com/causes/success-charges-in-dog-dragging-case-upgraded-to-felony-cruelty.html#ixzz2oub9Eqqd

• overview of original petition

On the day after Thanksgiving, two people witnessed something that horrified them — someone in a pickup truck was dragging a helpless dog down the road on a rope. The rope broke, leaving the dog, an emaciated female pit bull, to die by the road. The trail of blood indicated the poor dog had been dragged over a mile. Her injuries were extensive and grievous. Fortunately Animal Control got the dog to an animal hospital, where it is now receiving care and love.

The truck driver has been identified, and reportedly has at least one prior animal cruelty conviction, but incredibly he has only been charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty in this case.

However, South Carolina law also contains a felony animal cruelty provision applicable to anyone who:

“…tortures, torments, needlessly mutilates, cruelly kills, or inflicts excessive or repeated unnecessary pain or suffering upon any animal or by omission or commission causes the acts to be done…”

Please sign this petition asking 13th Judicial Circuit Solicitor W. Walter Wilkins to prosecute this case under the felony provision of South Carolina’s animal cruelty law, rather than as a slap-on-the-wrist misdemeanor as currently charged.

Petition link (now closed) http://www.thepetitionsite.com/545/421/014/demand-south-carolina-charge-man-who-dragged-dog-with-felony-animal-cruelty/

WARNING EX. VERY GRAPHIC IMAGES: Laura the Dog Physically and Sexually Abused

“WTF…ABSOLUTELY SICKENED…I was in two minds whether to post this because of the graphic content & the reaction it will raise; but we have to speak up for those who cannot! The depth of my hatred and disgust for the human race gets worse every single day. I cannot comprehend the pain & suffering this poor dog went through at the hands of a human being; nigh monster!! The sick minded POS that abused Laura, is not fit enough to scrape shit off shoes with his/her tongue; never mind breathe the same air as normal beings! I hope whoever did this is found & quickly, they need to pay big time! Evil generally seeks its own benefit at the expense of others and is based on general malevolence!! Whoever did this I hope they suffer a life of pain & abuse; it’s nothing less than they deserve!! PLEASE if anyone recognizes this dog, or knows who it belongs to, please contact your local police or http://www.lasthopek9.org or https://www.facebook.com/LoveForLaura

“Kudos to those taking care of Laura; I know they are doing everything possible to return Laura to good health…please see Laura’s Facebook page for updates etc!”

PLEASE NOTE VERY GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW – VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED

Laura was scheduled to die at the Brooklyn Animal Control Center in NYC. A fate that so many face, but to think that Laura almost didn’t make it out of there is unfathomable.

Volunteers reached out to Last Hope K9 Rescue in Boston, Massachussetts to intervene and they immediately took action. http://www.lasthopek9.org/donate/

At the vets, Last Hope K9 Rescue learned that Laura had human bite marks on several areas of her body. She presented with redness and swelling around her eyes, wounds on her front and hind legs and mouth.

While these wounds are horrific enough, the depth of Laura’s abuse was much deeper. What was initially thought to be a mammary tumor and prolapsed uterus ended up being a sexually transmitted disease.

During her examination (by a male vet), Laura tucked her head in behind his neck and let out a loud sigh as he examined her backside.The doctor said it was like she was almost embarrassed. Despite the pain she must have been in, Laura never snapped or acted out, she just patiently sat there. To imagine that she endured this abuse for an extended period of time is no consolation.

Even with this level of repeated, unimaginable abuse, Laura is forgiving. She wants nothing more than the love and acceptance of people, despite the injustices bestowed upon her for who knows how long. Laura’s recovery and treatment will take at least 6 month.

To donate directly to help Laura, go to:http://www.lasthopek9.org/donate/

News Link:–http://hendrickboards.com/save-laura?tracking=529024c2432b9&utm_source=hb-laura&utm_medium=hb-laura&utm_campaign=laura

https://www.facebook.com/LoveForLaura/info

For more news & updates; visit:-Love For Laura Facebook Page Below:-https://www.facebook.com/LoveForLaura

In the shelter, Laura’s abuse was evident, but it wasn’t until she was examined by our vet that we truly came to understand all that Laura has endured. For Laura to be as loving and trusting as she is with humans, speaks volumes to the kind of dog she is.

She is currently in treatment for her conditions and her emotional healing has begun in her foster home. Laura has touched the lives of so many just by being her sweet-natured self. She deserves the very best and now she will get it.:-https://www.facebook.com/LoveForLaura

Following Posted by David French On November 18, 2013

 Unbelievable and disgusting case of animal abuse: Dog RAPED by humans and left for dead

LAURA WAS RAPED & ABUSED! Here is her story. Please consider to contribute to her fundraiser Lisa Anne Bakal wrote: “Horror upon horrors happen daily to these innocent dogs. Laura was another stray pit bull who entered the Brooklyn shelter.

They thought the growth on her was mammary tumors. When she hit the kill list, a good friend of mine who is a volunteer did all she could to get Laura’s life saved. She was one of those dogs who just “get you”. Last Hope K9 Rescue stepped in and saved her at the 11th hour.

Once they got her to their vet, the real horror was discovered. She put her head down and sighed as the “male” vet went behind her to examine her. It turns out those “tumors” weren’t tumors at all. She was repeatedly RAPED by a HUMAN and she has a sexually transmitted disease. She has HUMAN bite marks all over her little body.

She will need 6 months of heavy medical treatment to rid her of the STD she contracted from this filthy parasite who raped her. My eyes will never be dry, the tears are never-ending. Please follow her page on FB “Love for Laura” and the wonderful Last Hope K9 Rescue for updates.

Donations for her costly treatment can be made here: DONATE TOWARD HER SURGERY HERE:  PLEASE say a prayer for this innocent animal and if you can donate it will help tremendously. More information on Laura’s fundraiser here: Read more of this heartbreaking story here:

News Link:–http://universalfreepress.com/unbelievable-and-disgusting-case-of-animal-abuse-dog-raped-by-humans-and-left-for-dead/

You can send packages to Last Hope K9 Rescue c/o Laura 71 Commercial Street, #184 Boston, MA 02109. When sending treats please note that her vet has recommended that she not eat any wheat or sugar.

To Donate:–http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/love-for-laura/105234

Other News:–http://www.examiner.com/article/dog-with-human-bite-wounds-rescued-on-the-day-she-was-to-be-killed

Dog With Gang Tattoo Rescued In Los Angeles

“WTF…I’m stuck for words; how could anyone torture a young pup by tattooing him? I suppose these gangs are used to violence & murder etc. was the dog destined to be used as another tool of aggression? It obviously wasn’t vicious enough for their gang; bloody knob heads! Thank God he was thrown out like trash, tied to a tree & rescued; he could so easily have been killed & buried. Perhaps one of the gang actually had a heart & couldn’t kill Petey, whatever it was; I’m so pleased he was rescued”!

Petey is a pit bull that has undergone trauma that no puppy should have to endure. Found abandoned and tied to a pole a woman came to his rescue and brought him to ROMP Rescue where they discovered that Petey’s underside was covered with a gang tattoo.

Petey was found about a month ago tied to a pole outside a doughnut shop in Lomita, California. The woman who found him called police for help, but help never came.

So she provided the dog with food and water. When at the end of the day no one had come to help she took him and home and to a veterinarian to be checked out.

“He was crying,” said Randy with ROMP Rescue. “She saw him and she called the police and they said they would call animal control. Neither one ever showed up.”

The woman was unable to keep Petey permanently so she reached out to ROMP Rescue and Randy came to take Petey.

Once back at ROMP he noticed markings on Petey’s belly and thought he might have ringworm. When he shaved Petey’s belly he was shocked by what he found.

A tattoo that lists the name of a “set” of a Los Angeles-area gang covers most of Petey’s underside.

“I’m speechless,” said Randy. “I can’t understand why they would do that. The pain involved is obviously more than any puppy should have to endure.”

ROMP Rescue fears the tattoo isn’t the only pain Petey has endured. Although he is great around people he gets angry and nervous around other dogs. They hope to find him a home in the future, but for now he’s not ready for one.

“His legs just shake,” said Randy. “He’s afraid of the world.”

A fund has been set up for Petey’s training and care. Donations can be made here.

Video & News Link:–http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2013/07/dog-with-gang-tattoo-rescued-in-los-angeles/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LifeWithDogs+%28Life+With+Dogs%29

Carrie Ault, Daniel Ault Allegedly Kept More Than 100 Rotting Animal Carcasses On Indiana Farm

See Video at link below!

“OMG…this couple want a right good kick up the ass then jailed one year for every animal that suffered & died. How the hell can they say it’s been exaggerated when the bloody proof is staring them in the face. What sort of person throws dead animals in a septic tank? & thinks nothing of leaving dead bodies amongst the living? As for not having the equipment to bury animals; has he never heard of a bloody spade? if he had buried them as they died it wouldn’t have got so out of hand; but how did they die? from starvation, neglect what…answers are needed! They ran an animal auction, so they must pay dearly for what they have done; imagine how they treated them whilst alive?”

“These neanderthals deserve the full force of the judicial system thrown at them; make an example out of them! An animal is an animal to me, irrelevant of where it lives or what its purpose is…they all have blood running through their bodies, they all feel pain, discomfort, loneliness; just the same as house animals, there is no difference. If anything farm animals should be treated with the utmost respect from birth to death…they are literally going to die for your plate…don’t they deserve some comforts whilst they were alive? One thing’s for sure, they must not be allowed to own any animals or work with any; I’m hoping the judge can at least manage that!”

SUMMITTVILLE, Ind. — A prosecutor said Friday that an Indiana barn where investigators found starving animals living on top of more than 100 rotting carcasses was the worst case of animal cruelty he has seen, while one of the owners maintains that the conditions have been exaggerated.

No charges have been filed against the owners, but Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings said “many counts of animal cruelty are a possibility.”

Carrie and Daniel Ault allegedly kept more than 100 rotting animal carcasses on their farm in Summitville, Ind. No charges have been filed.

“I’ve seen a number of animal cruelty cases. I’ve never seen anything like this before, with a level of volume that’s unprecedented,” Cummings told The Indianapolis Star.

Cummings said the law gives latitude in how people care for livestock, so some charges may be difficult to prove. Animal neglect is a Class D felony under Indiana law, punishable by up to three years in prison.

Investigators discovered the situation at a barn in Summitville, about 70 miles northeast of Indianapolis, earlier this week after receiving a report about several dead animals. Investigators initially found as many as 100 carcasses, including dead horses, chickens, turkeys, rabbits, cats and dogs, inside the barn. Sheriff’s deputies have been burying the carcasses.

Also inside the barn were about 30 living animals who were so malnourished one investigator described them as “walking skeletons.”

Authorities say they found more dead animals in a septic tank Wednesday, and Madison County Sheriff’s Department Maj. Brian Bell said there was “no telling how many” dead animals were on the farm altogether.

“`Lots’ is all I can tell you.”

The surviving animals include horses, sheep, chickens, turkeys and rabbits. Some of them have been placed in foster homes, but some are still loose.

Carrie Ault, who owns the farm with her husband, told The Herald Bulletin that the condition of the surviving animals has been “blown way out of proportion” and the media is “over-exaggerating” the situation. Ault did not elaborate.

Maleah Stringer, director of the nonprofit Animal Protection League, disagreed.

“These animals were living, literally living and sleeping on piles of rotting bodies. And no food, no water, nothing,” she said. “This is not overblown.”

The Aults run an animal auction in Strawtown in Hamilton County and had been working on opening a meat processing plant in Grant County.

Earlier this week, Ault’s husband, Daniel Ault, said the deaths weren’t preventable. He said some of the animals had died four months ago and he didn’t have the equipment to dispose of the carcasses.

News Link with video:-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/12/rotting-animal-carcasses_n_3072783.html

Behind The Scenes At The SPCA: Investigating Animal Cruelty

George Bengal of the Pennsylvania SPCA is like the Ed McMahon of animal rescues. There’s just one difference: When he comes to your door, he’s not bringing an oversized check and balloons.

“I’ve had cases where the people we’re investigating will say to me, ‘I know you, I’ve seen you on TV,” said Bengal. “And to that I say: ‘And now you’re going to be on TV with me, but it’s not for a good reason.”

As the director of humane law enforcement for the Pennsylvania SPCA, Bengal has seen everything from dog-fighting, as seen in the recent Germantown case, to pet hoarding. He’s also a retired Philadelphia police officer.

With 12 humane officers on the team, the group can have a workload of 30 to 50 cases at one time. They also have the daunting task of enforcing the animal cruelty laws for 16 counties.

“People often think that we’re funded by the state because we’re enforcing state laws, but that’s not the case,” said Bengal.

His team is constantly following-up on calls and investigating animal cruelty and abuse. 

“We have a twenty-four-seven hotline,” said Bengal, “calls come in everyday and we look into each one. Every time I think I’ve seen the worst case, another one will top it,” said Bengal.

A look into the world of animal fighting

Bengal says he has seen horrific scenes of animal fighting. The fights, which are motivated by money, involve high-end betting.

“In one case, my team found half a million dollars in cash at a home,” said Bengal. “It’s a blood sport. These animals are trained to fight, even to the death.”

He says the fights attract large crowds and he’s seen over 100 people in one house. Spectators can be charged just for watching.

“In many cases, women will be cooking and actually selling food upstairs in the kitchen, while downstairs the men are watching the fighting,” said Bengal.

A dog rescued from dog-fighting. (Courtesy of the Pennsylvania SPCA)

He says the animals are trained to fight from a young age. Owners may start out playing tug-of-war with the dog as a puppy using a towel or rope. Eventually, they will start training with weight pulls for a sled, which are legal.

“They train them like it’s a fun game,” explained Bengal. “Eventually, they’ll put heavy chains on their necks to strengthen them, pump them full of steroids and have them run on treadmills. Animal fighting is like a boxing match.”

The fights are so serious that the owners will even pay for a cutman to treat physical damage during the fight.

“These guys will go so far as to put a sedative or poison on their fur, so that when the other dog bites, he’ll get weak and sick,” explained Bengal. “With cock fighting, they will implant knives or gaffs on the animals claws.”

When asked if the owners ever feel remorse for their actions, Bengal says they only think of the animals as valuable property.

“They’re mad when we take their animals because some of them are worth thousands of dollars,” said Bengal.

“Some of these dogs are grand champion fighters, and their pups alone can be worth $20,000 to $50,000.”

Dangerous hoarder homes

Can you imagine 110 Chihuahua‘s living in one home? Bengal can. He says that typically, animal hoarding goes hand-in-hand with other types of hoarding, which can mean a dangerous situation for both animals and humans alike.

“These are some of the most tragic cases,” said Bengal. “These people have serious issues. They’ve lost their ability to know what’s right and wrong. They don’t having running water, they don’t get things fixed.”

He says for many hoarder cases his team must wear protective gear and breathing masks due to mass amounts of feces and garbage.

“We’ll find dead animals inside these houses,” said Bengal. “One woman actually asked if she could take pictures of the dead ones before we took them out, she was that mentally attached.”

He says homicide cases for humans mean a felony or a death sentence, but when an animal is killed, it may only mean minimal jail time or a fine.

“When we go to a location, it’s a lot like a narcotics investigation. We get forensic evidence and autopsy results to determine the cause of death,” said Bengal. “We treat these cases as if it were a regular homicide.”

The SPCA works with the Licenses and Inspections (L&I) department to get people out of these conditions and find them psychiatric help. In some cases the properties may be deemed unlivable and are condemned.

“We try to do as much as we can,” said Bengal. “You have to stay professional at all times. Our job is a combination of a cop, social worker and educator.”

Healing hands at the SPCA

Wendy Marano, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania SPCA, says the group has a “no kill” philosophy.

“No animal comes here with a clock ticking,” said Marano. “We work hard to get them better, we want to give them a second chance.”

She says the SPCA team works to rehabilitate abused animals so that they may one day enter into an adoptive home.

News Link:-http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/homepage-feature/item/52547-behind-the-scenes-at-the-spca-investigating-animal-cruelty?Itemid=1&linktype=hp_featured

Victim Of Animal Cruelty Ready For A New Loving Home

“Somebody must know who this lucky little chap belonged to, you wouldn’t forget a face as adorable as that in a hurry! I’m just so pleased the little guy is on the mend, he deserves a wonderful loving home after what he has been through! Imagine how sick someone is to want to break a dogs legs…not someone you would want to associate yourselves with; eh?? So if anyone thinks they know where he came from. or has any information, please contact the number at the bottom; before they do more than break legs next time!!”

FORT WAYNE – The tiny black dog with giant brown eyes and crazy hair bounds across the room, a flurry of wagging tail, busy nose and a heart three times the size of his body.

Michelle Davies | The Journal Gazette Sawyer, an 18-month-old mixed-breed dog and suspected victim of animal cruelty, is now healed and ready to be adopted.

What a difference a few months makes.

On Jan. 5, the terrier mix, now called Sawyer, was found by a passer-by in the 700 block of 3rd Street suffering from two broken front legs.

The “good Samaritan” who found the tiny dog with black hair and gray Einstein eyebrows took him to the Northeast Indiana Veterinary Emergency Speciality Hospital in Fort Wayne, where veterinarians found that the dog’s injuries were not like those that would have been caused by getting hit by a car. Officials at Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control opened a cruelty investigation.

In the meantime, there was a scruffy little dog to help and the shelter’s Angel Fund was nearly depleted after paying for the puppy’s surgery.

“So many people donated for his care,” said Peggy Bender, community relations and education specialist at Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control. “Without it, he wouldn’t be where he is today. You can’t use tax dollars for this type of situation.”

Officials said about $4,500 was raised in a week.

Friday, officials announced that Sawyer was ready for adoption, and he showed off the healing power of love. He’s spent about 10 weeks in a private foster home.

Shelter officials said that despite his ordeal, Sawyer has been nothing but boundless energy and love. Officials estimate he’s about 18 months old.

“Even with both legs in full casts, he would try to hug you,” said AmyJo Sites, Animal Care & Control deputy director. “The injury didn’t slow him down one minute.”

Bender said she worried at first because Sawyer would bounce up and down on his casts until veterinarians assured her the bones had been repaired with plates and pins and the bouncing didn’t hurt him.

The woman who fostered Sawyer since his surgery – officials asked that her name not be used so she can continue fostering high-profile cases when needed – said it will be very difficult to let him go to his “forever home.”

“He is awesome. He’s an amazing dog,” she said. “He never knew he had broken legs.”

Bender said that while high-profile cases such as Sawyer’s get a lot of attention, it also helps remind people there are many, many other animals that need homes and that when they see cruelty or neglect, they need to report it at 427-1244.

“If you see something, pick up the phone,” Bender said. “We do keep it confidential. Just let us know so we can check it out.”

The cruelty case involving Sawyer remains under investigation.

News Link:-http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130323/LOCAL/303239950