Neglected puppy gets medical attention

PLANTATION, Fla. (WSVN) -- She's only a puppy, but she's suffering in a way no animal should. Doctors were saddened and stunned after a dog was found hungry, abused and wandering alone.

"In the short time she's been here," said Brian Carnahan, "she's definitely been a trouper, quite a stoic little dog."

When the female pit bull mix, roughly 18 months old, was spotted in a busy Sunrise intersection Monday morning, the only thing obvious was that she was skinny and hungry. "Licking out of a plastic bag," said Carnahan. "Yeah, and then I got her a hoagie, and she came over."

Carnaha saw a small nylon leash embedded in the skin around the dog's neck. Carnahan brought the dog to the Animal Hospital of University Drive.

Veterinarians said, from some angles, you couldn't even see the collar because it was so deeply embedded. "It may have been there weeks, or even months," said Dr. Carl Ansara, "and then when we looked under the neck, at the bottom of the jaw there, you could see the extent the injuries were."

Staffers cut the old, dirty leash from her neck and began a course of antibiotics for the infection. Ansara said they had to leave the wound open so it can heal, then cut out the dead tissue and sew it all back up.

Until then, she's soaking up all the love and attention, and that tail hasn't stopped wagging. "She greets you with kisses," said Dr. Ansara, "and just wants to be pet. But it's an unfortunate situation what happened to her."

The injury did not penetrate as far as her trachea, so her windpipe was not affected. The puppy successfully underwent surgery Tuesday and is now in recovery mode. The vets have now named her Belle.

The Animal Hospital of University Drive is collecting donations to help care for this dog. If you can help or are interested in adopting her, you can contact the hospital at: 954-741-3114.

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