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Donations from all over the country are pouring into the Cosgrove Animal Shelter in support of a black pit bull-lab mix that was found emaciated and near death this week at Branhaven Shopping Center on West Main Street. Donations received toward a reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the dog’s condition are nearing $10,000. This is in large part to the fact that PETA is contributing $5,000 to a reward fund.
Hope, as she’s been named, was covered in pressure sores, and could not walk when she was found. She is estimated at between 5 and 8 years old and is not spayed. Under 24-hour veterinary care, she is slowly getting stronger, eating small amounts, and beginning to walk again; it was estimated that she was starved for three months and she was on the verge of organ failure.
Laura Burban, shelter director, said, “There are no leads yet, but we hope the reward money will help ‘flush out’ the person. It’s an ongoing investigation.”
Burban added that it was the second such case of abuse and neglect in the past year; a dog was left alone in a residence for six weeks and an arrest warrant is out for the former owner.
“We know someone out there knows whose dog this is,” she said. “The vet now believes that Hope has had puppies in the past. If this is true, people may have purchased one and have seen this dog. Please help us locate the person responsible.” Burban said that “all information provided to the shelter regarding the previous owner will be kept confidential.”
Burban has been keeping Hope’s legion of newly acquired fans updated on Cosgrove shelter’s Facebook page, which has been exploding with views, shares, and comments. Burban said the dog was hours away from death and that it was one of the worst cases of animal abuse the shelter has seen. This short video has been shared more than 78,000 times.
“The public has been amazing in coming out on behalf of her, helping any way they can,” said Burban. “The support and sympathy are amazing.”
Burban reported that as of Thursday, Hope’s body temperature has stabilized, and that she has peed and pooped; that’s important since it shows her organs are functioning. She’s gained 8 pounds since she was found, mostly from the fluids she’s received to rehydrate her, and she is eating and drinking. She has no parasites. Burban estimates that it will be two weeks before she’s “out of the woods,” and six months until she’s “back to normal, part of which is the need to gain 30 pounds.
The shelter has received toys, beds, teddy bears, and many good wishes for Hope from as far away Texas, Georgia, California, Chicago, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Hawaii – “all over the place,” Burban said.
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“There are a lot of really good people out there,” she said.
Burban said applications are being accepted for Hope’s adoption, adding that a vet tech caring for her is interested. That may be a good thing since Hope may need ongoing care.
Donations can be made through the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter’s website. Donations or mailed to the shelter at 749 East Main St., Branford, 06405.
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