Wednesday, December 9, 2009

We must ALL stand up for Little Brown Dog because he can't! DO IT NOW!

This little dog needs your help and you can give yours with just a couple clicks of your mouse. Read the story. Get mad as h*ll and stand up for that is right and for justice and for compassion and for humane treatment of all living beings. There is a link at the bottom of this post. Click - sign - you area all done and I promise, you will feel better after you do. We can't remain silent. We must speak up for this little sweetheart. ~Mimi


Photo by Adam Brimer
A terrier mix known as “Little Brown Dog” is hand fed by University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine student Lauren Donovan on Wednesday.

But her attending physician, Dr. Patricia Sura, says she's just "perfect."

The 17-pound terrier mix loves all the attention she's getting at the University of Tennessee's College of Veterinary Medicine. On Wednesday morning, she repeatedly rolled over on her back, making sure the veterinary students and residents scratched her belly, and posed as students took pictures of her to document her recovery from last Thursday's skin grafts on her paws.

But three weeks ago, the outlook was much more grim for the sweet-natured canine, nicknamed "Little Brown Dog" by the veterinarians and students who took her in.

The Knoxville Police Department's Animal Control Unit brought the young adult dog in Nov. 3, shortly after arresting 45-year-old Jimmy Lovell of Pilkay Road. Authorities allege that Lovell dragged the dog for several miles on Liberty Street behind a pickup truck.

"Little Brown Dog" arrived in pain, her chest and all four paw pads badly burned. Some wounds were so deep her bones and joints were actually ground down.

After the dog healed from most of her wounds, Sura performed skin graft surgery to her paws Thursday.

"There's all different kinds of skin grafts that you can take," Sura said. "And we took full-thickness grafts. And the reason for that is because they should grow hair normally, to give her the most cosmetic outcome. ... But also this gives the firmest healing. So it's not going to be fragile."

That's the medical side of the case.

There's also the human-dog bond and the special temperament of "Little Brown Dog," or LBD, as the dog's nickname has evolved, UT staffers said.

Sura, along with UT veterinary hospital resident Dr. Rebecca Hodshon and veterinary student Lauren Donovan, changed LBD's bandages Wednesday.

They put her paws in turkey-decorated casts so she could celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday in style. Over the four-day break, she will be fostered at the home of one of the doctors at the hospital.

Sura is happy with how fast LBD has recovered.

"I am pleased that we are here now, rather than months from now," Sura said of the skin graft procedure. "Because these either go really well, or they're a disaster. So I'm happy that they went really well."

LBD's left front paw has healed so well that it no longer has to be bandaged. And Sura was pleased to "downsize" from four bandages to three Wednesday.

Hodshon said she has learned a lot while working with "Little Brown Dog."

"It's amazing," she said. "I've never seen a case from very start to finish of contaminated, fresh wounds to them being completely healed and closed. So watching all the stages of wound healing actually happen is pretty amazing. Especially because she's done it so quickly.

"And she's wonderful. She's a sweetie. It's amazing in itself that she has so much trust in everyone."

Hodshon is surprised that LDB has not had trouble trusting humans after the Nov. 3 incident.

"I saw her the night that she came in," Hodshon said. "And she has these horrible wounds all over her. You'd go up to the cage, and she comes to you. Wants to be held, even though she's been through this horrible ordeal. She's a really special dog. ... Even in horrible pain, with these horrible wounds, she still has the trust."

Unfortunately, "Little Brown Dog" is not alone. This year, the Young-Williams Animal Center has reported 35 cases of neglect or misdemeanor cruelty, said Xan Rawls, director of shelter operations.

LBD, though, is a bit of a rock star.

A fund was set up for her care. After covering LBD's current expenses and spaying, some of the almost $13,000 donated to that fund will go toward an animal abuse education program.

LBD "is the most famous dog in the hospital," said Sandra Harbison, a College of Veterinary Medicine spokeswoman.

Kristen Letsinger may be reached at 865-342-6432.



National Canine Cancer Foundation

25 comments:

Golden Samantha said...

OMD - what a horrific story about this sweet dog. I can't stand the visuals that pop into my head when I consider what has happened to this pup. YES I signed the petition - you bet. Horrid, Mimi! Give kisses to your two sweeties!
Hugs xo
Sammie

The Oceanside Animals said...

We hope that guy gets the maximum sentence for what he did to this sweet little girl!

♥I am Holly♥ said...

I signed the petition and sent it on to some friends. With tears in my eyes to think that someone could do something so horrific to a sweet little animal. I hope and pray he gets the maximum sentence before he does it again.

Arran, Arthur and Mum said...

Poor little brown dog. :(
How can people be so cruel.
~lickies, Ludo

Canine Crusader said...

I can't even write what I want to because this crap makes me furious!!! Similar case last year in Atlanta, motorists honking at a guy dragging a dog on the intersate! I remembered, Sparky was his name.

http://www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=101069

There was a happy ending. He has a new home with a new Dad.

Crimes against animals should be punishable by law!

KB said...

This is beyond words. What's wrong with some people?

An English Shepherd said...

What a great outcome to such a tragic story.

Some people are just plain nasty.

Wizz

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Woo don't want to know what we think -

But then again, I think you've already thought the same -

Tank woo fur sharing this one!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

How could anyone be so cruel!!! LBD is one amazing pup - we will woo for continued recovery and we will head over to sign that petition too.

Woos, Phantom and Thunder

Teddy Bear said...

What is wrong with some of the people in this world? I am so glad that Little Brown Dog has found such wonderful people to care for her.

Love,
Teddy Bear

Unknown said...

Justice would be equitable only if this moron is dragged behind a semi truck, unclothed, for miles and miles, in Texas, where folks know how to enact the law of the land. After being dragged behind the semi, he should be yanked to his bloodied stumps and tossed, unceremoniously, into a ravine where the tune from "Deliverance" wafts on the breeze and some cretin can be heard to say, "My, you sure got purty lips!...Squeal like a pig. It's your turn!"

How Sam Sees It said...

There is a special place in he## for people like him! Look at how many good people there are compared to him!

Sam

Sue said...

He should be locked up forever for doing such a horrible thing to a dog. I have no patience with anyone who hurts animals or children.

Sierra Rose said...

Wow. Crazy story. Heatbreaking to hear someone doing this.
Will head over to sign the petition.
Blessings to all of you there!

Hugs and snaggle-tooth kisses,
Sierra Rose

Ms. ~K said...

I am usually a peaceful, loving, understanding person, but stories like make me so angry I can't see straight!!!!
I believe strongly in Karma and Mr. Lovell's is not good!!!

Thank you for sharing LBD's story and for giving us all a chance to help make a difference!
Heading to sign petition now!!!
Kit

Golden Samantha said...

Mimi! Thanks for making so many pawesome touches to da blogger! Just wishes that I could figger out how to do it meeself! LBD is taking off on FB too - so pawesome! And thanks again for the changes! Very, very cool!
Huggers xo
Sammie and mom

Golden Woofs! SUGAR said...

Woof! What a story??? Thanks for sharing. Just want to wish you and your family Happy Holidays. I just posted my last post for the year. We are going on a long Holiday break. Lots of Golden Holiday Woofs, Sugar.

Julie said...

I found this post on the 12 of Dec.. Please please please give us an up date on little brown dog and let us know what happen to that very sick sick sick person that did this...
Julie

River said...

We signed even though it's a day late. It's horrible--it's too close to our home. We are really hoping this man is punished to the max. At least a lot of humans are speaking up for us now. It's very encouraging.

love & wags,
River

JacksDad said...

I don't understand how some people think. Ever.

Why would you do this to any animal? How could you get that messed up?

Martha said...

Sorry we seem to have missed this post until now - what a truly dreadful story.
We are continually baffled by some humans behaviour.
love
Martha & Bailey xxx

Two French Bulldogs said...

Humans could be so croool. Scary. Poor little baby.
Benny & Lily

Taffy said...

I don't even know what to say. That is such a horrific thing to do to a living creature of any kind. LBD will be such a wonderful dog to her forever family. I'm sorry I missed the cutoff to sign the petition.
Snuggles,
Twix

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Poor little doggie.
thank goodness doctors are helping.
There are such heartless people in the world.
This guy should be tortoured.
love
tweedles

Augie and Ti's mom said...

Oh that poor baby. Couldn't we do the same to his owner? I don't mean drag him very far--just 10 miles or so?