Beau

Abuse case in Lee County, Virginia

Rescued by local woman - Save Just One contacted 2 weeks later

Below is an edited email which was sent to a number of Lee County residents, fellow rescue workers, and selected animal welfare organizations on Sept. 8, 2001.  It includes the horrifying tale of abuse inflicted on this little white dog.

Subj: Animal abuse in Lee County - and Rescue
Date: 9/8/01 6:43:17 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Since I began rescuing dogs in Lee County last December, I have been praised, ridiculed, called names such as "Dog Lady of Sandy Ridge", lost friends, made friends, lost 10 pounds, and even told I should be nominated for Sainthood. But I also feel many think I am some neurotic woman with nothing else to do, and/or that I like dogs better than people. None of these things matter...as long as I feel that I am making a difference.

What DOES concern me are the many stories that have come to me about animal abuse in Lee County. The tales may not come daily...but not a week passes without some phone call, etc. The most disturbing ones are when it is known that children inflicted the abuse (or were suspected of it). Studies have shown that children who are cruel to animals are possibly abused themselves...and also, that many of the children who are animal abusers will be abusers as adults, possibly also to their mates and/or their children. Many serial killers have a history of animal abuse in their childhood. There are some very informative websites on this topic, and you can find the links to them on my rescue web site: http://www.geocities.com/suzza7 Some schools in other areas are now having speakers/classes on pet education and animal welfare. I wish I could interest our teachers in getting some kind of this type education to the children of Lee County. If you have read this far, please read on...because the story below that tells of abuse to a dog in Lee County was most likely done by children, and I think you will reach the same conclusion.


POSTED TO FIVE STATE RESCUE Sat. 9/8/01

Some of my worst days are when the phone rings again asking me if I can take another unwanted dog or a litter of puppies and I have to say "no". I talk to them and see what they plan to do if I cannot take the dog or puppies, ... and try to offer other possibilities than their being sent to the pound or abandoned. Sometimes there is a solution - at least some other avenue to try - and sometimes there is none.

This afternoon I received a phone call that makes me want to quit - to avoid the pain I feel....but it also reminded me why I cannot quit.

The young woman on the other end of the line begins by asking me "Are you the woman that takes in stray dogs?" I explain to her that most of my rescues are from pounds, and in a very few instances that I accept a dog from owners who for whatever reason no longer want the dog - that by Virginia Law strays are supposed to be impounded to give the owner a chance to locate a lost dog. She goes on to say that she must find a home for a little dog that she has only had for two weeks because she is moving and can't have at the new place. (At this point I am starting to feel a bit of anger..like why get a dog if you knew you may be moving, etc.) but she continued with her story...

She had stopped at a small service station and was pumping gas in her vehicle when she spotted movement at a little distance out in a field where a creek ran. Dragging itself out of the creek using only its front legs was a small white dog (about 15 lbs.). She went through the brush and tall grass to the creek and found a little male dog, white w/ tan spots, on the creek bank. Its rear legs were bound together with weed-eater string, some cutting into the bone and maggots in the wound. On one side of its body it had slash cuts, possibly inflicted with a weed-eater and had also been shot with B-B shot in several places. To finish it off the tormentors had obviously dumped it into the creek. Although in pain the little dog allowed her to pick it up. She took it home where she cut away the embedded string, cleaned out the wounds, and picked out the B-B shot. (At this point her voice was breaking and I was near tears.) She said she could not afford to take it to a vet, but a friend gave her antibiotic for the dog and she nursed its wounds herself. She has had the dog about two weeks and says its wounds have healed nicely, that it loves children from ages 1 year to 14 years. She estimates the dog which she has been calling "Beau" to be about one year old, intact male, short hair white w/ tan spots, says it has a broad head like a Pitt but is not a Pitt. Her mother let her leave the dog at her home - "but only for a few days" to let her try to find it a home.

UPDATE Sept. 20:  Several attempts were made to see "Beau" and I was able to arrange it today.  The pictures below were taken today, approximately one month after the woman found Beau.  Keep that in mind when you look at the pics of his wounds which are healing well, but I do have some concern about the ankle wound after this length of time.  I gave him his first combination vaccination today.

Beau is a gentle and friendly dog, which is somewhat surprising after his being so terribly abused.  He came right to me to be petted.  The woman who is temporarily letting him stay at her home says that he can actually walk on his front legs which he did at first because of his rear legs being so badly wounded.  He weighs approximately 15 lbs. and has a docked tail.

Save Just One has no foster room at present for Beau.  A couple of other rescue groups have offered to take Beau into their foster care until a home can be found for him - one in North Carolina and one in Ohio.    If you are interested in adopting Beau, please check back or contact us.  Hopefully, we can arrange to have him picked up and sent to rescue soon!

Pics showing some of his wounds: (taken Sept. 20)

Update Nov. 1, 2001 -  Beau is now in foster care of Save Just One!