North Carolina - It is difficult to view the photos of Firu. The large dog is covered in road burns so severe that portions of his skin are missing entirely.
Firu is a 1.5 yr old Boxer/American Bulldog mix that was recently taken in by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control after it was discovered that his owner had dragged him behind his vehicle.
How could something like this happen? The owner claimed to have been drinking. He had tied the dog to the bumper of his truck and then forgot about him....he proceeded to drive home. An act of utterly cruel negligence.
Firu suffered massive injuries to his entire body. His paws are bloodied, with portions missing. His skin is gone in many areas - there are too many road burns to count.
Samantha Hodge, an independent rescuer, heard about Firu's plight and she has taken him in. The dog is currently at her vet, Dr. Tom Wellrich at the Animal Hospital of East Burke.
Firu is receiving pain medication, his wounds have been dressed and he is getting the rest and care that he requires to recover from his horrendous injuries.
Firu's vet bills will be astronomical. This hasn't stopped Hodge from her desire to provide for the wounded dog. Firu's owner failed him in a horrible way - he is now in the care of people that refuse to allow him to be let down again.
If you are interested in helping Firu recover from his grievous injuries, you can make a donation directly to his vet clinic. The information is as follows:
Animal Hospital of East Burke, Dr. Tom Wallrich, c/o Samantha Hodge, 202 Eldred Street NE, Valdese NC 28690, (828) 874-8387
Please share Firu's information. Ask that others share it also. This young dog is in need of positive thoughts and prayers. The amount of pain that he must be in right now is unimaginable. Thankfully he has been taken in by someone that wants nothing but the best for his well being.
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Comments
So, let's see...the dog owner was drunk and forgot about his dog tied to the bumper of the truck. Not only did he practically kill his poor dog, he put the lives of anyone else on the road that day in danger because the POS was driving drunk. Throw the book at him. He needs to be charged with multiple offenses and never allowed to have a companion animal again. The really witchy part of me thinks HE should be dragged behind a truck for miles. I'm praying that Firu recovers completely and finds a home that will love and appreciate him.
I hope hye was charged and gets the max. He don't need another animal. This man is heartless and stupid on top of it. I live in Charlotte N.C. come and try to drag my dog I'll sober you right up.
I agree that this bum should be charged - and convicted - of animal abuse. If drunkenness is his excuse then he should be charged with DUI, as well.
"He needs to be charged with multiple offenses and never allowed to have a companion animal again." I second that statement!
While it's positive and polite to focus on sympathy for this poor brutalized dog, this kind of crap won't stop until we begin to highlight these atrocities AND call for strong punishment.
absolutely - reckless endangerment, DUI, cruely to animals, can he be charged with ignorance and philistinism?
What the #$%#@^ is wrong with the people of North Carolina? This is happening over there with increasing frequency. Does Animal Control even care? Do they file charges? Do the police pay any attention? Granted there are a few caring dog owners there, but from the dearth of comments about this heinous act, there aren't many people out there who DO care. Letters to the officials in this area are the thing to do, and I expect many from out here in California will do so. People of NC, wake up and start making noise about animal abusers, lack of appropriate activities by animal control, and lack of cooperation by law enforcement.
@JoAnne Klein... You took the words right out of my mouth. NC is not looking good!
Not surprised at all animals aren't safe any more no one can be trusted people are getting worse everyday I advise everyone to start being careful. There aren't enough police around any where its up to us to watch our backs.
The dog's owner should be charged with animal cruelty and REQUIRED to pay for his vet bills! He should also be tried for drunk driving. What a moron. That poor animal did not deserve this.
Penny thank you for covering this story, national attention is definitely needed for cases like this (which sadly are not that uncommon) so that animal negligance and cruelty laws can be strengthened. While I admit I'm not sure what the cruelty/negligence laws are in NC, in many parts of the country the sentences if convicted are minor - financial penalties, community service, and little if any jail time. Hopefully he'll be charged with DUI in addition to cruelty to animals. In addition to stronger animal cruelty/negligence laws, we also need a National animal abuser database so that rescue groups and animal shelters can run people's names to find out if potential adopters have ever been charged with or convicted of animal abuse, cruelty, or neglect. Right now there is none, which means this guy can sober up and go adopt another dog today.
Sadly, this is not a plight of just NC-it's happening EVERYWHERE! I'm so sick of seeing these in Examiner, not that they shouldn't be covered but that they are happening at an alarming rate! Starved dogs, chained dogs, dragged dogs, the list goes on and on-what's happened to us as a society? Laws can change, but I don't think the abusers can!
I personally know the woman who has taken this poor dog under her care. I can assure you that he WILL be cared for in the best way possible and that he will be adopted into a loving home. She has made a life of this. NC has recently worked hard to improve our laws so that people who abuse animals face felony charges. If you are interested, you can google "Susie's Law". This law now allows these people to be charged with a Class F Felony which carries jail time. I agree that more needs to be done to prevent things like this. But I assure you, as a resident of NC who is a dog owner and lover, we are not all like the person who is responsible for this. Most dog owners here are much more responsible and loving.
Why should an innocent animal suffer because of a stupid, cruel, drunk owner?????
Not only should the owner be charged and convicted for all the acts, he should be made to pay firu's medical bill as well.....poor dog...hope he recovers soon....he is in our thoughts and prayers.....god bless..
You know here in Arkansas we go to the drags often. Bring the drunk scum and I'll tie him to the back of one of the dragsters and see how he likes it. I can forget he's back there.
I'm with u Arkansas, this jerk is too stupid to live....Also the nation wide database of animal abuse listings in a great idea...I hope they give this guy the max..money and jail time..make him pay for all vet bills and rehab needed.
this is just horrible, I hope the man responsible for this gets exactly what he deserves!! this is just unacceptable to say the least!!!!
Owner of this poor dog should be charged for animal cruelty. His explanation is stupid. He has sadist nature.
Awful! :-(
How do we get the names of the man who did this?
So here it is one year-six weeks after the incident happened, and I just now found out about it. Well that really dose not matter. The fact is that it did happen. It is in opinion that people like this poor dogs owners should never be able to own another animal for the rest of their life's. Further more I also believe that anyone that would be able to forget that their dog was tied to the bumper. Really needs to take a long hard look at themselves. All of this after a few drinks.Really...Really.....REALLY? There should be mandatory charges to be brought against suspects of such crimes. Anyone that is guilty of neglect, or abuse in any shape, form, or matter. There should be mandatory jail time that is equal to that would be if the offense were carried out on a human, in addition to serving a minimum of one year working without pay at either an ASPCA, or a Humane Society Center. After all animals can not back for themselves. Now for myself if I were to see someone do such an act they would be much better off being arrested than to answer to me(cause I would do to them as they did to that animal then castrate and or nuder them to prevent any of DNA from getting in to the gene pool.). If you doubt me try me.
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