Four-month-old puppy faces costly surgery after suspected animal abuse
NILES, Ohio - A case of suspected animal abuse in Trumbull County as a four-month-old puppy is found severely injured, his leg broken so badly it may need to be amputated.
The puppy, renamed Ozzie, is in desperate need of surgery next week on his right front leg, but pain medication is helping the playful pup get around.
Employees of the Animal Medical Care Center in Niles tell 21 News that the veterinary clinic is taking donations, hoping to raise at least $1,200 to perform the surgery to repair the leg.
Veterinarian, Dr. Rachel Snyder says, "The fracture is pretty bad. It's right over a bone that involves the joint. So that makes it harder to fix. It's unfortunate for him. It's going to have an impact on his whole life."
Ozzie will never have full use of his right front leg again and if the leg does not heal correctly it still may need to be amputated.
Workers at Dr. Singh's Animal Medical Care Center say the four-month-old pup was rescued in Warren from what was described to them as a severe case of abuse.
Kathi Ponzani, a worker at the clinic, says, "He has such a bad break that he had to be kicked as hard as you can kick an animal, and many, many times to suffer this kind of break. It's right beneath a growth plate and he is only four-months-old. So when we do the surgery and put the pins in, it may not do the job and his leg may have to come off."
Kathi Ponzani says this is just another reason that the state of Ohio needs to toughen their laws on animal cruelty. Ohio's laws are among the most lenient in the nation.
In the meantime, employees at the Niles animal clinic are hoping to collect enough in donations to enable Ozzie to keep his leg, and they hope someone in the community will offer him a new place to call home.
This Friday, October 14th, the Animal Medical Care Center in Niles will hold a bake sale to help raise money for Ozzie's surgery. It will be held at the veterinary clinic at: 5955 Youngstown-Warren Road in Niles. You can also call the Animal Medical Care Center and give donations over the phone at: (330) 652-0400.
Ozzie is also in need of a permanent home. A foster family has stepped forward to get him house broken and help with his recovery.