The Boxer puppy known as Dodger touched many lives in a short period of time. The individuals that met and attempted to save him were immediately taken by his special spirit.
Dodger had so much life to live. A puppy only 12 weeks of age - he should have been chasing balls and butterflies, but instead, he was fighting a pain so severe that most people probably could not endure it.
Dodger was brought into the Mountain View Animal Hospital by his "owners". The people failed to share how the young pup had come to have severe acid burns from the base of his neck, down to his tiny docked tail. They did, however, tell the clinic that they could not afford the medical treatment that Dodger desperately needed to survive.
The couple asked if they would be charged with animal cruelty if they left the clinic with their puppy and they were told yes. So, they surrendered little Dodger to the clinic and he was taken in by the Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue organization.
Though Dodger's medical expenses were going to be astronomical based on the severity of his wounds, the rescue did not hesitate to take him, or his injuries, on.
The happy ending to this story would be that young Dodger survived surgery and treatment and that he is now being lovingly tended to by caring volunteers.
The harsh reality is that young Dodger passed away yesterday during surgery. His little puppy body was so ravaged by horrendous injuries that he simply did not have the stamina to survive.
I, along with thousands of others, long for the day that everyone will realize that animals feel pain. They have nerve endings just like humans. Their bodies feel the hurt that is all too commonly inflicted upon them. What they lack is a voice.
For some reason, there are people in this world that take that lack of "voice" as an opportunity to heartlessly inflict pain. Whether they assume that the lack of vocalization means that pain can not be felt, or whether it means that they can take advantage of silent innocence, I'll never know.
Thank you to the Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue for showing Dodger kindness in his final hours, and for sharing his story. He will not be forgotten by anyone that reads about him.
If you would like to make a donation to the Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue so that they can continue to help dogs like Dodger, please click here. Thank you.
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Comments
Someone will have to explain to me why the owners were not charged with animal cruelty just because they surrendered him. Clearly, they knew what had happened.
Great piece on how animals feel pain the same as people. We are the voice of kittens and puppies like Dodger.
I'd like to know, too, Chris. It's obvious to anyone that it's animal cruelty and the owners should have been charged. Just because you surrender an animal doesn't mean you aren't responsible for how it's been treated.
Those so-called people should be charged - the longest sentence possible. What they did to Dodger was outright murder, as far as I'm concerned. As long as humans can get away with this type of cruelty, it will never stop. RIP Dodger.
The owners originally claimed they didn't know what had happened. And, he had been this way for at least a few days, as the wounds were infested with maggots.
Mainly the reason this happens is because laws regarding animals looks at them more like property than leaving creatures. The way most city laws regarding cruelty cases if the owner voluntarily surrenders the animal to a vet, rescue or shelter they cannot be prosecuted for cruelty.
REST IN PEACE SWEET BABY.
MAY THE MONSTERS WHO DID THIS TO YOU, BURN IN HELL.
THANK YOU BLUE RIDGE FOR SHOWING HIM LOVE.
Amen......this is so sad! This is the reason I like animals more than people......
Penny you stated it so well. Animals do feel pain . I have seen so many terrible things being done to animals. It is disturbing that these people go unpunished because the animal can not testify against them. Way to many are just getting a slap on the wrist for unbelievable violence to innocent animals. the laws need to be changed to stop it.
You've got to be kidding me. Just cause they surrendered him their not gonna be charged???? Where's the justice in that... what's to say they won't do this again... Maybe they burn in hell!
Throw the book at these vile bastards.Just beacuse they attended the vets doen'y mean they shoudn't be chargeed to the max. An eye for an eye.Give me their details and I happily will make these vile scumbags pay 100%
the people who brought him in should still be investigated? to find out what happened? I mean this is beyond horrid
RIP baby, your young innocent life wasted for no reason, there must be justice for you baby and the millions of other victims. Perhaps some day people are going to wake up to the fact the the ones that do this kind of horrible things to such innocent and helpless victims deserve and need stiff punishment, more yhan a slap on the wriste because your pain, suffer, and agonizing death is the same as if it had been done to a child. These retched excuses for human beings need punishment to the fullest extent. But RIP sweet aby, they can never hurt you again, GOD help their next victim PLEASE.Thank you Blue Ridge for all the love and kindness you gave to this little soul.
Dear Lord this is so wrong, when is it going to stop, please make it stop soon ,my heart can not break any more.
I don't understand - WHY WEREN'T THESE PEOPLE CHARGED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY? Please let ALL OF US KNOW, who we can call? Write to? to get these people CHARGED AND CONVICTED for absolute TORTURE OF AN INNOCENT & VIBRANT ANIMAL!
PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN GET THESE MURDERERS CONVICTED!! Otherwise, WHY do you tell us these horror stories? Just to make us sad? This is ridiculous and irresponsible - PLEASE TELL US WHO WE CAN CALL OR EMAIL, IN ORDER TO GET THESE PEOPLE CHARGED!! This is OUTRAGEOUS!!
I agree with everyone...WHY THE HELL WEREN"T THESE "PEOPLE" charged with cruelty?Laws are changing but too damned slow! I believe heavily in Karma and these idiot brain dead people will get theirs....Why do "humans" always have to abuse the most defenseless beings? MAY THEIR SOULS BE DAMNED!
What is the city, county, state? I think the authoirites need to be inundated with correspondence and phone calls asking for justice for Dodger!
How horrible that poor babie,.... and to the people who did this.. there is such a thing as Karma and I hope it hits you like a ton of bricks..... RIP sweet dodger you are a angel now xoxo
there needs to be a database of animal abusers... and anyone selling or adopting dogs out needs to check against the list the people who want to buy/adopt their animals. These people need to be on that list, they should NEVER own pets again. And if they are found to own again.... JAIL TIME/FEES/ETC
http://www.pet-abuse.com/pages/about/contact_us.php.....this is the national pet abuse hotline for those interested and how to contact the appropriate authorities, plus companion animal abuse articles
YES, what was the point to this story other that to make all of us animal lovers furious?!!!
No information was given as to the location of the incident, charges to be filed, how we could take action to help remedy a tragedy like this? Please tell us your point for this infuriating article!
I think the point of the article is to show you what people in rescue deal with every single day and to promote the outrage of animal cruelty. I am in rescue myself and it is so hard to get people just educated about the pet population problem and alot of people don't even see the big deal in what happened to Dodger. I still have people come up to me and say "why do these dogs need to be rescue"...it floors me every single time. I love the south and I was born here and raised here but Southern culture towards pet ownership is way behind the times. I hear all the time people say "its just a dog whats the big deal?" Even I have friends that wouldn't even consider getting their dog neutered no matter how many unwanted pets that may cause. But no matter how frustrating rescue can be there are so many positive things that come from even the most horrid story just like Dodger. If Dodgers story inspires one persons to donate 50.00 or better yet go volunteer at a shelter then his story coming to light no matter how frustrating, will be worth it.
I myself am a rescuer of dogs..... dumped on the country road i live on, owners dont want anylonger,dont or wont spend the money for heartworm treatment, i dont have it either but i work overtime at my job for that,and there isnt a more heart felt joy than to watch these dogs run around in the yard with no worries, to see them go from scared and hungry to happy and palyful makes it worth it all. JUSTICE FOR DODGER!!!!!!!
RIP Dodger - I tried to help you but we were all too late.
Dodger was brought to the Mountain View Animal Hospital in Hickory, North Carolina.
The Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue organization (and other organizations like it) works tirelessly to improve the lives of animals in need, whether the dog came to them from loving owners who could no longer afford their pet, from the family of a recently deceased owner, rescued from high-kill shelters, or found wandering the streets, lost, hurt, and sick.
Working with several local vets, many generously donating or discounting their work, bones are mended, heartworm is cured, and many other health issues are taken care of, costing BRBR far more than the $200 to $300 adoption fee. Please support BRBR and other rescue organizations to help defray some of this cost.
BTW, a bill was recently defeated in North Carolina that would have made some types of animal cruelty a felony. As it stands now, all types are classified as misdemeanors and punished with fines only. Primary funding to defeat the bill was provided by the NC pork industry out of fears that this bill would act as "the first step in the slippery slope towards government mandated vegetarianism"!
...Food for thought.
The point of this story is to show the horrors we, rescue people, see daily that the general public does not see. Many people complain about the adoption fee for pets in rescue, this is why the fees are what they are, to cover the cost of the ones we try to help and they do not make it, I personally have rescued dogs and knew in my heart there was nothing that could be done but help them to the bridge and release them from the horrors that their "family" did to them.
The sad reality is this family that had Dodger, probably have another dog now. The other harsh reality is this families children is learning the same behavior, there are no consequences at all. Even at the shelters, if the family signs the dog over there will be no charges and they are free to walk around the shelter and adopt another.
Some people see dogs/animals as a "thing" not a member of the family. Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue (all rescue) are in desperate need donations, if you are not comfortable sending money directly to them, then visit the the website and donate there.
Please know this is not the only one, there are many, many others out there that do not ever know love and compassion and die chained outside in the heat, or in the kennel, or they are bred and when they are used up, and no more money can be made from them they are dumped at the shelter its a vicious circle that needs to be broken.
GODSPEED DODGER, may you rest and know we tried to help and held you when you took your last breath and cried and hurt for you. Hugs to all rescue people, its a thankless job but we must go on, because there is another Dodger out there that needs us.
The sub humans who burned Dodger should at the very least do some HARD JAIL TIME. Who do I
call/write/visit to file a complaint. The sub humans who poured acid on Dodger, they should have acid poured on them.
Did the vet even call the police about Dodger?????
RIP sweet Dodger. As to the subhumans who tortured this innocent little creature of Gods: an eye for an eye , a tooth for a tooth, and possibly acid for acid!
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