KTRV Fox 12 Dog Allegedly Tortured is Recovering
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Meridian, Idaho and Boise, Idaho - A young puppy found in Meridian is recovering after allegedly being tortured.
The black lab mix shows signs of being dragged and lit on fire.
Even though veterinarians can't say for certain, they do believe the puppy is the victim of animal cruelty.
"I've seen lots of trauma cases but nothing like this before," said Dr. Dave Schulz, a veterinarian at Vista Animal Hospital.
From the tip of his nose to the end of his tale, this black lab mix puppy shows definite signs of abuse.
Patches of bare skin apparent on his belly and paws, evidence that he was dragged by a vehicle.
But what's worse, he doesn't have any whiskers or eyelashes, indicating that the 14-week-old dog was set on fire.
"His hair all over his body has been singed or burned off. Most likely, I would think a flammable liquid put on him and ignited," said Dr. Schulz.
The puppy was found early Monday morning, in a flowerbed at real estate investment firm, DBSI Group of Companies in Meridian.
His yelping caught the attention of several employees.
"He had wounds from all over his legs, to his paws being torn up. His ears were rather scabbed as well as his tail and belly," said Employee Piper Lester.
"You could see fear in little puppy's eyes. You could see it shaking. It was in a lot of pain," said Walt Mott, one of the company's principal owners.
That pain has diminished a little.
The pup has been given antibiotics and narcotic pain relievers.
But for the most part, the veterinarian will let the dog heal on his own.
"Each day, I would expect him to get better and better, if he's going to pull through," said Dr. Schulz.
Lester added, "He's like a little warrior. I think he's gonna make it. We're all pulling for him here, everyone, everyone."
And if he does survive, he'll have a safe place to call home.
Lester says she'll adopt him, putting an end to his life of misery and abuse.
"I'm sure it'll be spoiled rotten, that's good," said Mott.
If the puppy continues to heal over the next few days, he's expected to survive, but will most likely undergo skin grafts for his wounds.
Employees at DBSI are collecting donations to help pay for the dog's medical treatment, which may reach into the thousands of dollars.
