Thank You for Helping Kota!!!
Kota Blu is a 5 year old
Australian Cattle Dog that was shot by a Cherokee County Sheriff Deputy
(located in Canton, Georgia) on Monday, 14 May 2012 at approximately 10:15pm
when he came onto her property looking for someone. Before the officer gave her
human, 20 year old Travis the opportunity to put her inside, she was shot.
See Kota is deaf "“ 100%
DEAF "“ a trait that is common in Cattle Dogs or Blue Healers as they are
sometimes called. Kota is ALWAYS kept on a lead, for well her humans don't want
her out in the street "herding" cars or doing other dangerous activities
unsupervised since she can't hear them call or things approach her.
This Officer basically
snuck up upon both Kota and Travis, failing to identify himself, only yelling
that he wanted to know who Travis was and to call off the dog. He never
listened to Travis state the dog was deaf and couldn't be called off. He
ignored everything that Travis said to him. As Travis was attempting to put
Kota in the house this officer continued to approach Kota, Travis and the
house, we can only assume that Kota could smell the adrenaline and fear on the
Officer. There were two officers at the house but Kota was only bothered by
one, the one that shot her.
Kota came loose, she went
towards the officer, nipping at him as cattle dogs are trained to do "“ not bite
mind you but nip "“ the office pulled his hand away and there was a scratch, in
the officers mind he was bitten, "viciously attacked by a dog that was lunging
after him in a biting manner" "“ whatever the heck that means.
He told Travis to call
her off or he would shoot. Travis was leaning down to pick up Kota when BOOM!!!
a shot was fired, right next to Travis's head and barely missing Travis.
Kota was hit, yelped and
ran off. Now remember that Kota is 100% DEAF and therefore the next 3 days that
her humans looked for her was like looking for a needle in a haystack "“ have
you ever tried looking for someone that can't hear you call? Thanks to fliers
that were printed off by a family friend Kota was found alive and semi well
Wednesday night but could not be caught until Thursday afternoon.
For three hours the
Cherokee County Sheriff's Department swarmed Kota's parents house because it
has now deemed a "crime scene" "“ the entire family was interrogated including
the 14 year old son that had been asleep and the 11 year old son that had also
been asleep "“ but then we are getting off subject here and we are not trying to
turn this into a Political thing.
When Kota was found she
was immediately taken to her Veterinarian where the extent of her injuries was
discovered. Her lower mandible was obliterated "“ there are tooth, bone and
bullet fragments all in her face, she has a huge hole in her bottom jaw, her
teeth are mangled and missing, she is covered in tics and well her whole face
is just mangled. Though if you think about it she is a very determined dog!
Spending three (3) days in the woods, unable to bark, eat or drink, so we
thought and then collapsing into her Momma's arms when she was again located on
Thursday.
Kota is resting as
comfortably as she can with pain meds and antibiotics being administered while
we attempt to raise at least $3,300.00 for the orthopedic surgeon to fix her
mouth and then another $500 "“ 1,000 for the Veterinarian who is taking care of
Kota as the funds are being raised.
In the mean time Kota's
family has been told that the County Animal Control has decided that Kota is
rabid (even though she is up to date on her shots and is NOT an outside dog)
and Kota has been labeled vicious. Kota is under a mandatory 10 day
isolation/observation for rabies and while the Sheriff's Department
investigates the incident and decides if she needs to be put down for being a
killer attack dog "“ to which Kota's Veterinarian states she is NOT.
Kota's Mom has been
charged with "failing to keep Kota restrained" "“ a leash in Cherokee County
Georgia is not a proper restraint, and Kota's Mom has been charged with
"allowing Kota to bite a police officer". To which Kota's family must hire an
attorney and go to court to fight these charges with the court date being June
5, 2012.
Oh and did we mention
that Travis was almost shot? Well the shot was fired right next to his head
where he continues to have ringing in his ear and severe pain. He is undergoing
treatment to see the extent of his injuries which could lead or be nerve damage
or worse.
Everyday there is new
developments and everyday Kota is deemed a horrible dog and her humans' even
worse people. It is heartbreaking, heart wrenching and extremely difficult on the
entire family, a family that is madly in love with their disabled dog that they
have had since she was 6 weeks old.
We aren't really asking
for anything more than the ability to fund Kota's surgery and recovery even
though there will be other expenses associated with this> attorney, fines,
medical for Travis and who knows what else. We just want our Kota back!!!
Thank you for taking the
time to read this and to listen to our story. If you are able to make a
donation to help Kota, her humans would greatly appreciate it, but times are tough
and we all know it, so thoughts, prayers and love are good too : thank you!!!