Dog buried alive
Pensacola, FL (US)

It was about 10:45 p.m. Jan 13 when Melissa Vanderpool and Robbie Wilson first heard the whimpers. They thought it was just a neighbor's whiny puppy, yearning for attention.

But Jan 14, while working in his backyard, Wilson decided to investigate. He looked over his privacy fence and saw a dog's nose poking out of the ground.

Wilson called Vanderpool, his fiancee, who called for help. An Animal Control officer responded.

Wilson, a friend of his and the Animal Control officer unearthed the bull-mastiff mix that was buried in the backyard of a home in the 7700 block of West Jackson Street.

The Escambia County Sheriff's Office also responded to the scene and began an animal cruelty investigation. So far, no one has been charged in the case, said Sgt. Mike Ward, spokesman for the Sheriff's Office. He declined to discuss what the homeowners told investigators.

"The dog was in the ground," Vanderpool said. "It had dirt all over it. I don't know how it got there. It seems like every few minutes he stretched his neck up and could get his nose through the (small) hole."

Wilson, his friend and the animal control officer dug the dog out with shovels, making sure not to strike it while digging.

"It was labor intensive, a time- consuming thing," said Bruce Rova, director of Escambia County Animal Regulation and Control. "It took more than half an hour to dig it out."

Wilson's friend pulled the dog from the ground. It walked around and all of a sudden collapsed. The dog was taken to an emergency animal clinic Jan 14, where it spent the night. It couldn't stand and was dehydrated.

It was taken Jan 15 to the Safe Harbor Animal Hospital, where it spent the day resting and connected to an IV.

The dog, whose caretakers are calling Lazarus, looked tired on Jan 15 afternoon while lying in a cage. It seemed to barely have enough strength to lift its head as Rhea Delmore, the animal hospital's office manager, petted it.

What happened to the dog is especially disturbing to Rova.

"It's in my mind ... a felony animal cruelty case," Rova said. "It's pretty severe. I'd compare it to the worse case I've ever seen."

But there is good news, Rova said.

"It looks like it's going to make it. That is what I am so happy about."

Dog Dragged

by News 5

Published: Fri, July 06, 2007 - 11:07 am
Last Updated: Tue, October 02, 2007 - 8:53 pm

A four month old Chihuahua puppy is dong better tonight in a Pensacola Animal Hospital and the man responsible for him being in the hospital wants the dog back.  Pompeyo Morales speaks to News Five for the first time about what happened and why he's not guilty of animal cruelty.

"I love my dog."  Pompeyo Morales says it's all been a misunderstanding.  "It's not intentional its accident pure accident."

That accident left the four month old puppy named Bugsy, fighting for his life after being dragged by Morales.  Derrick Chadwick, Morales' friend, explains what happened.  "He got in his truck and forgot he had his dog hooked to the mirror on the opposite side of the vehicle so he got on the drivers side and of course he drove off."

Morales was arrested and charged with animal cruelty.

"The really nasty wounds are on this side." Dr. Gina Forgey is treating Bugsy at Safe Harbor Animal Hospital.  "Yesterday he was fearful didn't want to be petted.  Today he's starting to respond and act like a puppy again.

It's been a rough couple of days for the dog and he still faces a long hospital stay.  "As far as long term it's great, no internal injuries no broken bones it's all abrasions some of them are going to have to have skin grafts all of them will eventually heal," says Forgey.

"And you want him back-  Of course right now can you help to see him, can you help me," begs Morales.

   Morales can't see the dog or help pay the medical bills.  It will be up to a judge to decide where Bugsy eventually ends up but Chadwick believes in the end, everything will work out in Morales' favor.  "The thing is it's not intentional it's a horrific accident."

Morales is free on bond, he will be in court later this month.  

   Meantime, Bugsy is expected to make a complete recovery.

Abused pit bull

From PNJ staff reports

Employees at Jim Allen Elementary School found the brown and white dog at the school. Its face had been mauled and the animal had deep bite wounds around its head and a front leg. The dog is believed to be the victim of a dogfight.

Escambia County spokeswoman Sonya Daniel said the dog will be transported to the Humane Society as soon as it is released from Safe Harbor Animal Hospital in Pensacola and will not be put to sleep.

A $7,000 reward is being offered to anyone who can help identify the dog and its owner. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 436-7876 or the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida at (954) 727-2733.