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OLEAN, NY (WNY News Now) – A puppy dog found burned and abandoned alongside a rural highway in Cattaraugus County has died from his injuries. This, as investigators are now pushing to find the person responsible for this malicious act.
The puppy was found concealed in a bag last Sunday on Route 219 in Limestone. Those who found the dog took him to the Cattaraugus County SPCA in Olean who were disgusted by what they found.
“So what we know for sure is that this puppy was found, supposedly, in a bag. These boys found the dog, the puppy, and brought it to our shelter and our employees knew immediately that this little guy was in dire straits,” explained Volunteer for the SPCA Cathleen Stevens.
The puppy had suffered severe burns and possibly a broken leg.
“What we could see visibly was burns, extensive burns on his whole little body and his leg was swollen and he wasn’t standing on it, and then we learned a lot more after the vet was able to run more tests and there was more underlying issues going on,” said Stevens.
At first everyone was hopeful the pup, named Bailey, would pull through, but after x-rays and further testing at Orchard Park Veterinary Medical Center, rescuers feared the worst for the young dog.
“Once the vet x-rayed his leg and found that he had been shot and that his femur was shattered, they debrided all of the burned skin off of his back in the meantime and they did show us a photo of that afterwards and it was all pretty much gone off his back,” Stevens. “You could smell the infection on him. When the bloodwork came back that his kidneys were in failure, there wasn’t much that could be done because of the malnutrition he has also suffered.”
After only hours of finding the pup, he unfortunately had to be euthanized.
“We loved that puppy, we gave him a name and I’m sure that they didn’t. He was shown love right up until the time that he was gone,” said Stevens. “I was the last one to kiss him, I was planning on coming back for him. Not the way I came back for him but I was planning on bringing him back.”
The local SPCA is now asking for the public’s aid in finding who caused this malicious harm, and, ultimately abandoned the young dog. Those with information are urged to call (716) 372-8492.
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