Hope’s Odyssey Resonates

Sometimes the story of a dog betrayed takes on a life of its own, and sometimes the process is transformative. So it is with Hope.

Laura Burban, the director of the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter, says when she and her colleagues first saw Hope more than two weeks ago they reacted with ​“heartbreak and anger.” Now she and her staff have been uplifted and renewed. It is case like no other, she said. 

The emaciated black pit bull-lab mix dog, frightened and near death, was only 30 pounds when a woman brought her by car to the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter. The woman explained she found her walking and falling down near Branhaven Plaza across town.

The dog was all skin and bones and near death, veterinarians said. Burban’s team moved quickly, providing Hope with round-the-clock care at a local veterinary hospital. Burban told the Eagle it was one of the worse cases of starvation she had ever seen. Since then Hope has gained almost 15 pounds. She is believed to be between 5 and 7 years old.

An investigation has been underway from shortly after Hope arrived at the shelter to find the person responsible for Hope’s condition. Burban said she hopes to get some clues from surveillance tapes her staff is examining from areas near Branhaven Plaza where Hope was found. She plans to talk to people who live or work in the area. She is asking people to call the shelter if they have any information.

Why has Hope’s story resonated so deeply across the community? 

The Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter has seen many cases of abuse over the years but what is rare is the outpouring of love and concern that Hope’s case has generated. The case has touched people across the globe. They have written and sent donations on Hope’s behalf. 

It has inspired Burban and her staff as well. 

That may be because Hope has fought so hard to live and people can identify with that. Burban said ​“we have compiled a list and a map of all the people from places that have reached out to us in some form about Hope. We can tell you that places as far away as New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Puerto Rico and Vietnam have made the list.”

Hope’s story has generated fundraisers and billboards. Burban said that last week’s ​“Pizza for Hope,” a day-long fundraiser sponsored by Frisco’s Pizza in New Haven, raised $16,000 toward her rehabilitation. 

A Renewal of Faith

Burban said when she and her staff first ​“encountered Hope it was heartbreak and anger. Watching Hope progress has brought us happiness and joy. And with all of the calls, (sometimes 100 plus an hour) emails, (sometimes 150 an hour) letters, people stopping by the shelter with donations and gifts on behalf of Hope — this has brought us a renewed faith in not only the work we do, but for all the good people that are out there. …All of you have brought us a belief that good people really do outweigh all the heartbreak that we see. Thank you for uplifting us and for helping us to see the positive in a sad situation.”

Burban has been keeping Hope’s legion of newly acquired fans updated on the Dan Cosgrove animal shelter’s Facebook page, which has been exploding with views, shares, and comments. Burban said Hope was one of the worst cases of animal abuse the shelter has seen.

Hope’s story has touched ​“so many lives and each person we encounter have been affected in their own unique way. As an animal control department we see a lot of people do things to animals that turn our stomachs upside down and we go home at night in tears for those animals. Some cases never leave us and sometimes the heart break never leaves either. And we know it’s not just us. There are so many wonderful animal control officers who go through this, too. But Hope has been different for all of us,” Burban said.

“Everyone is feeling more confident that Hope will recover through all of this including the veterinarians who are caring for her. She said she knows the 15 pounds she has gained so far is a good deal of water weight ​“but we will still take it.

“In almost three weeks’ time Hope has made a miraculous recovery and we are so very proud of her!”

Hope’s Mysterious History

But who starved her and why is as yet unknown. At the outset Burban said body sores indicated that Hope, the name the shelter staff gave her, had been kept in a dog crate unable to move. She was very thin for a dog that should weigh about 65 pounds.

She may have gone without food for two or three months. Burban believes that a reward, now totaling $9,000 may help lead to the arrest of the person responsible for Hope’s condition. So far she has received few tips.

Hope has been staying at a local veterinary hospital under round-the-clock care. When she arrived she was given a series of tests, which showed she had liver and pancreas issues. A subsequent ultrasound determined she had a foreign object in her body. An endoscopy performed on March 15 found a small stuffed toy animal blocking her intestines. The veterinarians were able to remove the stuffed toy through this procedure. She might not have survived actual surgery.

There have been subsequent ups and downs but overall Hope is making progress, gaining weight, becoming a playful dog again.

For now Hope is eating and drinking and walking and wagging her tail, Burban said. ​“She is enjoying all of the attention that she is getting and loving having people around.

“Each day we are feeling more confident that Hope is going to continue to gain weight and improve. We are so proud of her willingness to continue to fight through setbacks and look forward to the next day! She has handled all of this with grace and appreciation and we are so thankful to be able to watch her thrive!,” Burban said.

Burban said that the shelter will post pictures of shelter dogs looking for homes. ​“So please share it far and wide.” Many want to adopt Hope. Ultimately Hope will find her forever home, Burban said, but right now everyone is concentrating on her recovery. 

Donations to the shelter or to Hope can be made at branfordanimalshelter.org and then click on donate. Or you can mail a check to Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter, 749 E. Main St., Branford, CT 06405.

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