ONE MAN’S TRASH ...
JUSTICE RESCUE NOW CARING FOR DOG ABANDONED IN CITY TRASH DUMPSTER
CHESTER >> Sweet, docile Doc appears to be on the mend.
Friday marked a week since the deaf, wounded Shepherd/Akita mix arrived at the non-profit Justice Rescue sanctuary in Chester County and an investigation into his apparent abuse began by Russ “Wolf” Harper, a state humane officer.
Early information that the dog was pulled from a commercial-sized dumpster along Highland Avenue in Chester is among the scenarios under investigation, Harper said last week.
It was about 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, when fellow Justice Rescue Human Officer Karl “Crash” Sangree headed out to the city, dispatched by Harper after he received a call from a reliable informant. Sangree was on scene within 30 minutes.
What Sangree found, according to a Justice Rescue message post on Facebook the next night, was “an old man that has many wounds.”
According to initial information provided at the scene, Harper said, the dog had been placed in a dumpster that was half filled with trash, and the lid closed over top of him. He was limping and bleeding from his left ear.
Neither Sangree nor Harper actually saw the dog inside the dumpster, Harper noted.
“When we got the call that a police officer was at a scene where this sweet boy was thrown in the trash, Crash went to save him,” the Facebook post states.
Since then, Harper said Friday, several witnesses have come forward with information about the dog he named Doc.
“I’ve received conflicting information and I am investigating multiple possible scenarios,” Harper said.
Harper said he’s looking into whether the dog arrived in Chester in the dumpster, if someone in the city possibly “thought it would be fun” to put the dog in the receptacle, or if the dog was ever inside the dumpster at all.
“I have evidence suggesting that the dog was inside that dumpster,” added Harper.
Bottom line, Harper said, “This dog has been abused … I will go to where the investigation leads me.”
Harper suspects that Doc had a family, and probably recently. He estimated the dog at about 7 years old. At 50 pounds, he is a healthy weight.
At this point, Harper said how Doc wound up on the street alone is anyone’s guess.
“He could have gotten away from the house. It could have been something as simple as that,” Harper said. “But I believe he was somebody’s dog. Somebody may be looking for him, missing him.”
Following Doc’s arrival at the sanctuary, he was placed under a 48-hour stray hold, required by the state. He also received what Harper described as a cursory examination by a veterinarian.
When the hold-time expired, Harper called the vet and had Doc back at the office on Thursday for a more extensive examination. It was then his suspicion that the dog was deaf was confirmed.
The dog was treated for cuts and abrasions on his tail and his ears were flushed and cleaned.
“He has a hematoma in his left ear,” Harper said.
According to Harper, there has been an outpouring of support for Doc, including monetary donations.
“So many generous people contributed to Doc’s care that we believe all his vet care and expenses are covered,” Harper said. “Any remaining money will go toward other animals in need.”
Meanwhile, Doc will continue to recuperate with Harper at the sanctuary.
Harper said that since Doc woke him up last Wednesday morning with some wet and welcome kisses, he’s becoming more of a love bug with each passing day.
“He is such a good boy,” Harper said.
According to Harper, Doc is representative of the about 900 reports of abuse that Justice Rescue receives in a year.