IT SHOULDN’T HAPPEN TO A DOG
Two pups rescued in Upper Darby park; reward offered
Justice Rescue Humane Officer Russ “Wolf” Harper knows it’s hard to look at the photographs of Gracie and Layla, a pair of severely emaciated, injured pit bull-type dogs found Monday in Penn Pines Park where they abandoned and left for dead.
“Please, for their sake, don’t turn away,” reads a Facebook message on the Justice Rescue page. “We need your help.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, the dogs remained in critical condition at Aardvark Animal Hospital in Downingtown, where Harper said they’re “nuzzling” each other for comfort.
Harper, who has been with the Chester Countybased Justice Rescue for seven years but has been investigating animal cruelty for 20 years, called it one of the worst abuse cases he’s experienced. A $1,200 reward is being offered by Justice Rescue for any information leading to those responsible for the abuse.
According to Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood, a passerby called 911 after discovering the two dogs in the park at Hilldale and Providence roads on Monday about 6:40 a.m.
“The dogs were in real bad shape,” Chitwood said Tuesday, noting they had been dumped in the main parking lot, along with some loose kibble strewn on the ground.
“One of them couldn’t even stand up,” he said. “There were fresh puncture wounds to the dog’s neck.”
Harper, who is leading the ongoing animal-cruelty investigation, has no doubts that the female animals were used as fighting dogs. Now, they’re forced to fight again, but this time with caring support from Harper, as well as the staff at the animal hospital.
“They are both hanging in there and we are doing what we can to help them,” Harper said. “As long as they continue to fight, we will continue to fight for them and supply any medical care they need.”
Harper estimated the dogs are about 2 years old.
They are similar enough that they are probably from the same litter, he said.
Each weighs about half the normal 50 pounds for a dog their size and age.
Their abuse, or torture as Harper called it, has probably been going on for most of their lives.
“They were starved, neglected and beaten,” he said. “They’ve known nothing but abuse. I’m sure of it.”
Harper said it was about 8 a.m. when he arrived at the park after being contacted by township police.
“One of the dogs was laying lateral, and could barely blink,” said Harper, referring to Gracie. “I tried to get some awareness by patting its head and the dog barely blinked.”
The other dog was cuddled next to her.
“She was so cold to the touch, it was like touching an ice cube,” Harper said of Gracie. “In my opinion, she was absolutely at death’s door.”
On the drive to the animal hospital, Harper kept the dogs separated. He removed his top shirt and vest and used them to cover Gracie, in an effort to help bring up her temperature.
It was at the hospital where the dogs were named by Harper and staff members.
When they were first rescued, Gracie was in the worst shape of the two. As of Tuesday afternoon, Gracie was still up and down, but actually doing better than Layla, who may have ingested poison, according to Harper.
“They are just babies,” Justice Rescue posted on Facebook. “They look at us so gratefully and with nothing but love, despite what humans did to them.”
As of Tuesday evening, the post was viewed by 2.3 thousand people, shared 949 times and drew 508 comments.
“One day the person who died this will be faced with something horrible. This person will be begging & crying to God ... why me? Why me God? Why is this happening to me God ... this is why,” read one comment. “God spelled backwards is dog.”
Many wrote that they were praying for the dogs.
Other comments included adjectives like “evil” and “morally bankrupt” to describe those responsible.
Even Chitwood, in releasing the details about the dogs’ discovery, had a choice description for anyone who could inflict such abuse on the helpless animals.
“They’re dirt balls,” he said.
At one point while recovering in the hospital, a photograph was taken of Layla as she rested her head on her ailing friend.
“You can see how much they love and try to protect each other,” Harper said. “She is not aggressively protecting Gracie, but won’t leave her side.”
To be eligible for the reward, anyone with information is asked to call Justice Rescue at 215-942-6363 or email abuse@justice-rescue.com.
Information may also be provided to Upper Darby police at 610-734-7693.
If anyone would like to contribute toward the dogs’ medical expenses, contact Aardvark Animal Hospital at 610-269-2226.