Hope the poor dog is going to be fine. he's doing a bit better already.
hope they find that pos that did thid to the dog
Veterinarians in Mount Pleasant caring for the dog found with her muzzle taped shut continue to do everything they can to save the dog's tongue. On Saturday, Caitlyn went through laser therapy to try and save part of her tongue.
According to officials at the Charleston Animal Society, the laser therapy will hopefully reveal good tissue which means she won't lose as much of her tongue. That means a better quality of life for the puppy who has gained national recognition this week, officials said.
Caitlyn, the puppy who has been to focus of hashtags, works of art, thousands of dollars in rewards, and calls for more stringent penalties for animal abusers, has had a whirlwind few days that apparently started Monday when she was sold for $10.
The people who once cared for Caitlyn, who was found in North Charleston this week, say they contacted Animal Control and gave them information on the man who bought their dog two days before she was found injured and abused.
According to the couple, the 15-month-old chocolate Staffordshire terrier mix, who was originally named Diamond, was a rambunctious puppy who caused damage in their home. The owners tell ABC News 4 they were afraid they might be evicted and decided they could not give Caitlyn the attention and training she needed.
A man saw Caitlyn and offered to buy her. The couple says they were in such dire straits that they sold her for $10 on Memorial Day. They say it's one of the biggest mistakes they ever made.
On Wednesday morning, before he left for work, the former owner said he went outside and found the dog had returned to his home. He asked his neighbor to call 911.
The resident called the Charleston County 911 dispatch center and painted a picture of a struggling and distressed puppy that had her muzzle taped shut. The dog's tongue was caught between her teeth.
"I have a dog that's here at my house that I found and the dog's mouth is taped shut with electrical tape, tongue hanging out its mouth, bleeding, and his tongue is completely black," the 911 caller said. "I just don't know what to do."
Officials said they think the dog was stuck in that painful condition for as many as 48 hours before she was handed off to officials at Charleston Animal Society for care.
The former owner said he never thought this could happen.
"No, not ever in my life," he said. "I wouldn't want to see her like that. I mean it kinda upsets me to see her like that."
The couple says it gave Animal Control the description of the man when contacted by them this week because Caitlyn left the couple's home on Monday in good health and on Wednesday she was found bleeding and with her mouth taped shut.
"Don't let me find you," the former owner said of the person who hurt the dog. "That's all I can say, don't let me find you because that's part of my family you just did some foul things to."
By Friday afternoon, Caitlyn was moved into a hyperbaric chamber at Mount Pleasant Veterinary Care Specialists for treatment in the hopes that she would be able to keep her tongue.
"This was intentional," said Dr. Kelli Klein. "Someone was trying to hurt her and they did it. They did what they went out to do. Just thankfully someone intervened so she didn't die."
Officials said her condition was improving greatly since being in the care of the animal hospital, adding she was beginning to want food and water again. She was even picking up her dog bowl on her own and chewing on rawhide. When she was first taken in, officials at Charleston Animal Society said she was not interested in food or water which was making her condition worse.
"I'm making it sound like she's doing so great, and she is, but these are serious, serious injuries," Klein said. "She still has a long way to go. Regardless of whether there are surgeries or not surgeries she will be in recovery for months before she is deemed normal."
National attention to Caitlyn's abuse has led to a reward of up to $6,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the people responsible. The Humane Society of the United States is contributing $5,000 of that amount.