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Hope wearing her new pink coat.
Hope is now walking, sitting, and holding her head up high but she has a long recovery ahead. Last Monday, a woman was driving on Route 1 near Branhaven Plaza when she saw a dog walking and falling down. She stopped, put the dog in her car, and took her across town to the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter at 749 E.Main St.
The dog, whom shelter folks later named Hope, was emaciated and near death and could not stand up or walk. Today her temperature has returned to normal and she continues to gain weight though she is not yet out of the woods. She will need to gain about 30 pounds. She is receiving 24-hour veterinary care. The next two weeks are crucial, Laura Burban, the director of the animal shelter, said.
Hope had no identification on her when she was found. She is a black pit bull-lab mix estimated at between 5 and 8 years old and is not spayed. She could have been brought in from another town or she may have lived in Branford. The animal shelter asks you to think beyond Branford. “If this dog looks like a dog you know, one who lived with a friend, family or relatives from another town, contact the Cosgrove animal shelter at 203 – 315-4125. All information provided will be kept confidential,” Burban said.
The vet said Hope has had puppies in the past and and that is one way she might be identified.
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When found Hope was covered in pressure sores. It was estimated that she was starved for three months and she was on the verge of organ failure when she was brought to the animal shelter.
There is a $9,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the responsible party.
Funding Hope’s Recovery
While there is a Go-Fund-Me page, the Branford resident who started the page does note it is not “directly associated” with the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter. She says proceeds will be sent to the shelter.
The shelter has announced three fundraisers for Hope on its Facebook page.
Frisco’s Pizza, 383 Forbes Ave., New Haven will hold a fundraiser on Sunday, March 19, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. One hundred percent of all donations will go for Hope’s care.
Lisa Kenney of Park Lane Jewelry is also hosting a fundraiser by selling Paw Print Bracelets and donating $5 from each bracelet to Hope’s Care.
Michelle Staffa has been creating Hope Pawprint Glasses for the animal shelter to sell toward Hope’s care. This fundraiser gives 100 percent of the proceeds to the shelter. Glasses are $10 each. Call the shelter at 203 – 315-4125, if you need to ship one. “They are selling fast, so we can take back orders.”
Lenny’s restaurant stepped right up earlier this week, donating $1 to Hope from each draft of beer sold that day. A patron matched the total.
There will be further updates from the shelter on Sunday.
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