[Purple]

A happy ending for dog found in trash bin

Woman who helped with Dover rescue can't wait to adopt him

By ROBIN BROWN

An injured and starving young pit bull is recovering after officials say he was discarded like trash near Dover.

Delaware Animal Care and Control Operations Officer Capt. Elainea Wyatt said the emaciated dog was found Jan. 22 in a city trash bin in the 600 block of S. Du Pont Highway. "He came to us at 23 pounds, [and] within seven days had gained 7.8 pounds and now weighs over 35 pounds," she said. "To say the least he is doing well."

Cold rain fell as the Children's Advocacy Center of Delaware reopened after Martin Luther King Day and, before lunch, a worker taking out trash saw the dog and got Melissa Campalone, the center executive assistant-financial officer.

Post-holiday, there was little in the bin, so they couldn't reach the dog. A co-worker and prosecutor from the nearby Office of the Attorney General "tipped over the Dumpster to get him out," she said. He was so dirty, they couldn't tell his color, but they saw a cut on one leg and "he was licking at the water on the ground, so we gave him a little water."

Campalone -- a longtime animal lover and volunteer at Kent County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals -- said she knew not to let a starving dog eat its fill, which can be fatal. "We gave him a little bit to eat ... pork slices from the prosecutor's sandwich and chicken from lunch another person had at the center."

Campalone says she was smitten when, despite the dog's grave condition, "he tried to lick my face."
All that took place in a few minutes, she said, when she also called Brenford Animal Hospital. "They said, 'Bring him right in.' "

As she readied to leave, an animal control officer arrived. She tried to convince him to let her take the dog, pay for his care and adopt him. But the sergeant upheld policy of the SPCA, which runs Delaware Animal Care and Control on state contract and investigates cruelty in the county.
He took the dog to the shelter near Camden where, Wyatt said, "He immediately went under the care of the staff and veterinarians. ... His wound was treated, he was fed, cared for, bathed and kept comfortable."
But investigation of his abandonment -- defined in state law as cruelty, carrying up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine -- was not as successful as the dog's recovery.

"With his breed, condition and age, concern about his past was high," Wyatt said. "All leads of reported stolen dogs, lost dogs and abused dogs were followed up. ... No one is looking for him."
With no tag, tattoo or microchip, she said, he was "a throw-away pet."
"It has become apparent in our society that pets like him are considered 'trash.' When the family loses interest or has no more use for them, they are tossed ... like a disposable diaper," Wyatt said.

Where the dog was found is "adjacent to a high-crime area and ... known dog fighting hot spot," Wyatt said, without releasing details of reports.
He didn't have severe injuries typical of dog fighting, banned in all states, but had an animal bite "most likely from an animal competing for food," she said. In bite cases with possible rabies exposure, she said, a six-month quarantine is required.

She praised those who saved the dog's life and said quarantine is no death sentence. "So much love and care has been shared with him already," she said, "the effort and care for the next five months should be worth the rest of his life."

Campalone admits she had gotten angry during the investigation when she got no details on the dog, was mistakenly was told he would be killed, or when her calls were not returned.

But love of a dog put that in the past. Campalone says she applied to adopt him post-quarantine and "couldn't be happier."
And soon, the dog will be put in foster care with Campalone.
"That poor little boy needs to be loved," Campalone said. "And I'm ready to do that."

Unknown to each other, she and the SPCA staff had the same idea for the dog's name. After the Sesame Street character who lives in a trash can, they all called him "Oscar."

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/p...NEWS/802100397

[DivineOblivion19]

Poor little thing. I'm glad he got the help he needed.

[megschristina]

Poor baby. I'm so glad he found a happy home after all hes been through. =)