SANDUSKY, Ohio – The Erie County Dog Pound is looking for the person responsible for a serious case of animal abuse.
Dog Warden Barb Knapp got a call on Sunday about a dog that was loose, but when she went to retrieve it, she was shocked by the dog’s condition.
“There was a rope that was caught in his neck,” Knapp said. “I don’t know if it was caught in his fur or whatever, but as I approached the building, you could smell rotting skin. So I knew that whatever it was embedded.”
The one-year-old German Shepherd, Star, was found in Margaretta Township. She had a blue-and-white nylon leash around her neck. The rope was so tight that the dog’s body had grown around it.
“In my book, and I’ve been here a while, I’ve had several flesh wounds in the skin and nothing as deep as this. This is one of the worst ones I’ve seen,” said Knapp, who’s been with the department for more than 30 years.
On Monday, a veterinarian had to surgically remove the rope from the dog. It was about an inch into the dog’s skin, nearly hitting her jugular vein, Knapp said.
An additional surgery is needed to repair Star’s muscle tissue, and will likely happen within the next couple weeks.
Star is now placed in foster care and eventually will need a good home.
“She’s very sweet. Her tail was wagging. The kids were touching her and petting her.” Knapp said. “It’s sad because she’s still lick your hand and act as your friend and some human did this to her. That’s the sad part.”
The Erie County Dog Pound is collecting donations to help with Star’s medical needs, including the second surgery, which may cost thousands of dollars.
An anonymous donor is giving a $500 reward to the arrest of the person responsible for abusing Star.
To contact the Erie County Dog Pound, call (419) 627-7607. The dog pound is located at 2900 Columbus Ave. in Sandusky