Pit bull found in trash bag healing at south suburban animal shelter
A dog dumped in a trash bag on the side of a road Monday morning in southwest suburban Willow Springs was saved by Cook County officials and is recovering in a shelter as police try to figure out who abandoned the animal, now named Vinny.
Cook County Animal and Rabies Control Warden John Haralamos was called to Forest Avenue north of 87th Street in the south suburb and arrived on the scene Monday morning to find a male pit bull, cold and severely dehydrated, according to a news release.
“I was more shocked than anything, seeing someone discarded the animal in this way,” Haralamos said in a phone interview Thursday.
The dog was rushed to a local veterinary hospital and then brought to the South Suburban Humane Society, where the staff decided to name him Vinny, according to the release. He was recovering Thursday at the Humane Society but was still extremely underweight and frightened, according to the release.
Emily Klehm, CEO of the South Suburban Humane Society, said the group is working to rebuild Vinny’s trust in humans.
“He’s just so shy and frightened of humans, which I think is completely understandable after what he must have gone through,” Klehm said.
Klehm said Vinny is already making remarkable progress. Once Vinny is feeling better, Klehm will look to find him a foster home and then hopefully a forever home.
The Humane Society will post updates about Vinny on social media, Klehm said.
If you are in a situation in which you need to get rid of a pet, Klehm said to call a local animal shelter.
The Cook County Sheriff’s Police Special Operations Unit has taken over the case and is looking for information about Vinny. Anyone with information was asked to call the unit at 708-865-4700.