Just when I thought it could get no worse the local pound has proven me wrong again.

Meet Spirit...

Spirit is a 3 month old puppy with a compound fracture of his rear leg that was found on October 6th, 2007 at the Wythe Co. pound. Isn't the infection nice? See the swelling? Notice the bone sticking through the skin? See the foot "popping" open from the untreated infection? What you can't see is the poor shape Spirit is in physically. He is nothing but skin and bones stretched over a weak body. What you can't smell is the god awful stench coming from the infected leg...it can turn your stomach.

This puppy was hit by a car over a WEEK ago while in the "care" of his former owners. Apparently they could not afford treatment (or a bullet) so they allowed him to suffer for days prior to bringing him (and his siblings) to pound where they surrendered them all to their fate. Then the pound put him in a pen with his siblings and left him with NO MEDICAL TREATMENT! The excuse? It isn't in their budget! ~Note this is NOT the first time they have denied a injured dog medical treatment either..The Humane Society has pulled numerous hit by car and even a hit by TRAIN dog from this pound!~

The pound euthanizes dogs all the time..that's part of their job. They have the training and the medications to do it but apparently this particular puppy and his suffering wasn't important enough to take the time to put him down since they couldn't "afford" to have a vet look at him. Instead they left him in a pen with his siblings with a compound fracture that had become infected. An owner surrendered animal can be euthanized on intake (and they have done so many times in the past)...so what made this puppy any more special than the others?

Spirit was found by the gentleman who takes the pound photos weekly... he had his wife pull him and the Humane Society has taken him to a local vet where he is now receiving his much needed a very delayed medical treatment. 

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On October 6th Spirit was taken to Wythe Co. Animal Clinic where Dr. Taylor was kind enough to treat him for us. His surgery was supposed to be done on Tuesday the 10th however one of the ACOs (the same one who picked up Spirit and KNEW he was injured) decided to go into the vet clinic and DEMAND that all treatment be stopped on Spirit because the "county can't pay for it!" I put all bills in my name for his treatment to be continued! His leg was removed on October 13th and his total bill came to $138 (now tell me WHY they can't afford that?)
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On October 10th members of the Wythe Co. Humane Society, Wythe/Bland Animal Welfare League, Lost Fantasy Rescue, and private citizens met with County Administrator and his assistant to discuss Spirit and the blatant lack of care that the animals at the pound were getting from the ACO's and the pound custodian. They both promised us that conditions would improve and that the ACO responsible for Spirit's non treatment would be reprimanded.
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An online petition was created titled "Justice for Spirit" where the whole story was outlined and folks were welcomed to sign showing their feelings toward this whole incident that the County Administrator called "Bad Judgment" on the ACO's part.
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On October 25th (requested by the FOIA act) a copy of the state inspection for the Wythe County pound was obtained by Mr. Witt. In this report Wythe Co. was found IN VIOLATION of lack of medical treatment for a dog ALREADY in the pound 8 days BEFORE Spirit (September 27th)! Other violations are also listed including  "some deficiency in the general area of the laws, regulations, and directives that apply to the pound facility and transport vehicle" by one of the ACO's and the pound custodian!
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Spirit will never be subjected to hurt again. He will always have food and water and a soft place to lay his head at night. He is a very happy puppy who loves to play with his squeaky toys and the cats that live with him. Thankfully dogs live in the moment rather than the past and I feel that Spirit will be just fine. However this never should have happened to him neither by the lack of treatment from his former "owners" or the lack of care from the pound who is supposed to be their voice! Only we can change the past and changes need to be made for the benefit of the animals that have to be held in the pound.