Early this morning I was up and preparing dog food when I heard something that made all three of my dogs leave the raw meat and run for the back door. I couldn't tell what it was until I got outside but then I heard it more clearly- it was an animal screaming in pain. I ran to the back of the yard and jumped the fence and almost ran straight into my neighbor, who had his poor yard puppy (recently aquired a few weeks ago, I had seen this poor baby chained in his backyard the day after he got it and brought him one of my old rescue doghouses filled with blankets since he had no shelter) suspended by his BACKLEGS over a bucket of black substance. The puppy was choking and gagging and was covered from head to middle in black muck, with some of the substance oozing out of his nose and mouth. Needless to say, I nearly football tackled my neighbor to the ground to get the puppy away from him. Then I used my jacket to siphon as much of the substance off of him as I could, which I could tell by the smell was used moter oil. The whole time I am ranting and raving at this lunatic who is telling me he was "treating" the dog for mange and it was perfectly fine. I told him I was taking the dog, he said he was calling police, I said thank you that would save me the time, and I ran for my house. By the time I got the puppy inside and started using a bulb aspirator on him he was already fading. I got as much out of his mouth and lungs as I could and got in the car to take him to the ER. By the time I got him there he was unconcious but the vet was able to get oxygen to him quickly and he woke back up while I was there. He is being given charcoal and is on IVs to flush out his system.
When I got back to the house the police were here waiting for me regarding the "theft". I explained the situation, showed him the pics I took on my camera phone, gave him the number to the local vets and showed him the moter oil covering my jacket, shirt, sink from the bulb aspirator and car. Then I took him to the back and showed him the bucket the neighbor was dunking him in and explained to the officer that I hadn't stolen the dog, I had taken the dog to the vet as it was in a life threatening situation. If the guy would like to go and pay the...oh..$1500 vet bill or whatever its going to be, he is welcome to pick up his puppy (knowing he would NEVER pay that bill). I then told him to call animal control and have them come out as I wanted a creulty case investigation.
So, it's been an eventful morning. Haven't heard back from the vets yet, but I am hoping the little guy makes it. Sadly, I live in a VERY rural part of NC where chained dogs are the normal and house dogs are considered weird, and this is actually the second time in 7 years I have caught a neighbor " treating" skin ailments/wounds with moter oil, although last time it was a dog that had gotten in a fight and the man had dunked a rag in moter oil and tied it around the leg. God knows how this idiotic wives tale started, but it is certainly responsible for a lot of grief in my area.
Anyway, prayers please for little puppy who doesnt have a name yet. And prayers that this stupid *** gets whats coming to him.