On December 15, Manatee Co Animal Services in FL impounded an adult mixed breed dog, ID #A069483, who had been shot in the leg. They sent her to a vet clinic for an xray which confirmed her leg was broken. No treatment was administered to alleviate the dog’s pain or help her in any way. She was sent back to the pound.
On December 16, Manatee Co entered notes in the dog’s record indicating she had received an exam from a vet and her prognosis was poor due to severe injury. The county put flea poison on the dog, gave her a dewormer and vaccinated her. No treatment was administered to relieve the dog’s obvious suffering. The severely injured dog was left in a cage to suffer further on December 17, December 18, December 19, December 20, December 21, December 22, and December 23 – no treatment or vet care of any kind was provided according to county records. Finally on December 24, a volunteer called a vet who authorized giving the dog a pain pill.
The dog, now in the care of rescuers, has been named Amari. Animal advocates staged a public protest this week to bring attention to Amari’s neglect by the Manatee Co pound. They say this is not an isolated incident:
“I’m here for Amari and all the other animals that have been mistreated,” said Tara Tresca, 33, of Bradenton, a rescue group volunteer and the organizer of the rally in front of the historic Manatee County Courthouse, 1115 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. “If we did it, we would be in jail for animal cruelty.”
The pound is investigating itself in the matter. Bill Hutchison, interim director of the Animal Services Division, bravely acknowledged that we have a Constitution in this country and that it contains a First Amendment:
“But I respect their opinion and their right to do what they’re doing, and when we have something to say, we will say it,” Hutchison said, referring to rally participants.
Asked to confirm basic facts of the case, he said Amari was a stray admitted to the county Palmetto animal shelter last month, lame and obviously in distress.
Obviously in distress. I guess that’s one way to describe getting shot and dragging a broken leg around. But he has nothing to say right now. Gotta hear both sides.
(Thanks Clarice for all the links on this story.)