March 12, 2008

OAKLAND, Mich. – She was found wandering the streets by a Michigan resident, who called the county’s animal control.

But what the officer thought was a normal stray pick-up turned out to be a shocking case of animal cruelty that was discovered as caretakers at the Oakland Pet Adoption Center evaluated the newcomer.

The 10-week-old Labrador pup’s ear were badly infected and bound with heavy rubber bands.

“It turns out someone tried to home-crop this dog’s ears,” said Kara Beyerlein, communications director of the shelter, which is near Auborn Hills. “We had no idea how bad her ears were until we went to remove the rubber bands.”

Now the shelter has issued a statement, pleading with the public, and those operating illegal, underground dog fighting rings, not to use rubber bands “in an attempt to cut off blood circulation to a dog’s ears, hoping they will drop off without harm to the overall health of the dog.”

Officials warned that such a mutilating tactic runs a high risk of causing major and even fatal infections to the dogs.

“People do this to make a dog look meaner or use it in fighting,” said Beyerlein, who thinks the dog’s previous owners mistakenly identified the lab as a pit bull.

Last Wednesday, within hours of the puppy’s arrival an Oakland County veterinarian performed an emergency surgery to remove the dog’s ears.

The pup’s ears were in such a poor state that while she was walking to the operating room she stopped to itch her ear, and actually kicked one of her ears off.

After the hour surgery, where she also was spayed, the vet cleaned the wounds and now the female puppy is recovering with antibiotics, as well as pain medicine.

The vet estimated the puppy’s ears had been cropped for about two weeks.

Supported entirely through the center’s Legacy Fund, the puppy’s medical costs are estimated at $500 to $600. Because it’s considered a special surgery, the county’s general fund does not support such medical care.

“Because we get a lot of abuse cases, we want to do all that we can to help these pets to go on and have a great life,” said Beyerlein, who said the Legacy Fund was set up to help such cases. “Every time someone donates it goes to the fund.”

When the black lab arrived, Larry Obrecht, manager of the adoption center, said he was “absolutely stunned and disgusted that people are doing this kind of thing.”

While the surgical alteration of dogs and cats is practiced to prepare some animals for show rings or hunting, it is often frowned upon by animal-rights activists, yet, according to Obrecht it can be done, safely.

“There are safe ways of doing this kind of thing,” said Obrecht. “You can do this kind of cropping, and also tail docking, in a vet’s office. They put the dog under, and then they put bandages on it to heal.”

As for pit bull owners, who fight their animals, Obrecht said he understands the ears are removed so the other dogs can’t grab latch on to them.

“We see it in pit bulls all the time,” said Obrecht, who must destroy all animals the county picks up that have been trained to fight or be vicious.

Fortunately, this young lab, despite her trauma, shows no signs of a disturbed disposition.

“It’s a delightful little pup. We’re grateful that it’s temperament wasn’t damaged at all by this,” Obrecht said. “Now this dog is going to look a little weird. It’s going to grow up without any ears, bur she’s just a doll. We really hope someone is willing to take this dog as their pet.”

Until a forever home is found, the puppy is with a foster family and will be evaluated for the next two weeks to make sure she makes a full recovery.

“The hearing of the dog seems to be normal, she doesn’t even know anything is wrong with it,” said Beyerlein. “She won’t have any additional medical complications though, no greater risk of ear infections or anything like that.”

As the news has spread about the lab, the adoption center has already received numerous inquiries for adoption. As of right now, the center is accepting applications and will be making a decision in the next three weeks.

Now, Obrecht, who at first, hesitated to release photos of the damaged dog, hopes the lab’s difficult story will carry a lasting impact.

His goal was to shock people and hopefully discourage the practice of binding animal ears with rubber bands.

For more information on the lab puppy or to make a donation to the Legacy Fund, contact the Oakland Pet Adoption Center at: 1700 Brown Road, Auburn Hills, MI 48326; or visit www.oakgov.com; or e-mail petadoption@oakgov.com.

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