Dog thrown, saved from bridge, Reward offered
Source: News-leader.com, October 12, 2009
Group offering reward for leads in Sept. 12 incident.
The first dog likely died on impact. A photo taken at the scene shows his body draped over the rock where he landed after being thrown from more than 60 feet above.
A second dog –a Newfoundland/retriever mix — suffered a broken leg and facial injuries and bit off a piece of his tongue when he and the other dog were apparently tossed from an overpass at James River Freeway on Sept. 12.
C.A.R.E. Animal Rescue is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the prosecution of the abuser. The group, meanwhile, is caring for the surviving dog, named Dover, until he’s ready to be adopted.
Outside the shelter at 1328 W. Sunshine on Wednesday, Dover lay in the back parking lot, a large green cast on his back leg. He’ll be in a brace for six to nine weeks.
“He’s just the sweetest dog,” said Melissa Hedges, a 21-year-old employee who is fostering Dover until he’s recovered. “When you think of what he’s been through, you expect him to be aggressive, but he just wants someone to love him.”
Dover wagged his tail, periodically approached people to pet him, stretched out to soak up the sun, and leaned into Hedges to soak up some affection.
“He’s a sweetheart,” said Lou Ann Potts, volunteer and board member. “He has eyes that will just melt your heart.”
Although they don’t know for sure, staff at C.A.R.E. do not think Dover came from an abusive home because of his gentle demeanor, said Anisa Dawn, graphic designer for C.A.R.E.
“We have a hard time believing the owners of this dog would do something so heinous,” Dawn said.
Dover is estimated to be 2 to 4 years old.
On Sept. 12, animal control received a call from a passer-by who spotted two dogs at the bottom of an overpass at James River Freeway, west of West Bypass and south of Battlefield Road in Springfield. It’s estimated they had been there for 12 hours.
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