Today, I would like to share the story of a pit bull terrier mix breed puppy from Sullivan City, Texas. Like most dogs, he wasn't given the opportunity to choose his forever home, instead, he arrived to an owner who viewed him as a burden and lacked the love needed for man's best friend. 

On Friday evening (04/02/21), the Sullivan City Police Department responded to a concerned citizen report of someone mistreating their dog within the city limits.


Officers arrived at a residence and encountered an adult male who freely admitted to brutally beating his puppy because he had soiled an article of clothing. 


The male puppy was found laying on the ground, covered in dirt, bloodied from his mouth, curled up in a fetal position. They noticed the puppy's breathing was rapid and shallow. He appeared to be exhausted from the resulting trauma and clinging to life by a thread.


As officer's assessed his injuries, they noticed that he was unable to use his hind legs, suggesting the likelihood of a back or hip injury. Officers quickly took action and  arrested and charged the puppy's owner with animal cruelty violations.


Officers then transported the puppy to the police station where they provided him with basic first aid. Shortly thereafter, officers contacted me and briefed me of the situation at hand. I explained to them that I was in route to their station and that I would be making every attempt to provide the puppy with the medical care that he urgently needed.


I traveled from my residence in Edinburg to Sullivan City not knowing what to expect. In the past, I've heard how strong and resilient dogs can be.  However, I was in disbelief after seeing the condition the puppy was in. I thanked the Sullivan City Officers for their prompt action and the gentle care they provided for the puppy. I then transported the puppy to the nearest after hours veterinary clinic.


We arrived at the Pet Doctor 911 Animal Care Center located in McAllen, Texas and were able to get on a waiting list. A few hours later, the puppy was evaluated for his injuries.


The Vet told me that the puppy was stable but that he had a long road to recovery ahead of him. The Vet summed up his injuries in order of severity, he had a skull fracture, a hip fracture, bruised lungs, and he also explained how he could either be temporarily or permanently blind due to the head trauma. The Vet also outlined a path forward with regard to treatment and the possibility of extended care.


The Vet recommended a treatment plan which included four days of hospitalization, with IV fluid treatment, oxygen treatment and every medication under the sun for inflammation. I was given an estimate of just under 3k for this treatment to which I agreed.


The Vet also mentioned that in the future, the puppy could require hip surgery in the event that the fracture did not heal on it's own. I told the Vet that I was in agreement and advised him to get the ball rolling on the treatment. 


As I was about to leave the clinic, I overheard the staff referring to the puppy as "no name", since I had inadvertently left that part of his patient chart blank. Quick thinking, I told the vet tech that his name was "Sully", short for Sullivan, his home town.


As I drove home that morning, I thought to myself, how can I use this incident in a positive light to raise awareness in communities here in the Rio Grande Valley with regard to animal cruelty? The impact that it has on families, the victims involved and the consequences for the individuals responsible for commiting these heinous acts of violence. If we get into the weeds about it, most of these incidents probably go unreported.


Then I realized, It's not just about dogs getting beaten, it's dogs being neglected, dogs chained up and barely fed, dogs left without water. Dogs left out in the blistering summer heat without any shade or left outside in freezing temperatures like we recently experienced.  Dogs with flea and tick infestations, mange and even cases of untreated heartworms.  Dogs left unattended to roam the streets that end up getting hit by vehicles, etc.