A dog left suffering for days after its leg was severed by a car has recovered and is now healthy enough to be adopted.
A neighbor of the dog’s owner noticed the animal appeared to have a broken leg and called County Animal Services on Jan. 5.
When animal control officers arrived at the home on 35th Street in San Diego, they found the dog’s right rear leg had been severed just below the ankle. The owner said the young terrier mix was hit by a car sometime around Christmas but he didn’t have the money to get veterinary treatment.
“After 15 years, it’s very rare I get upset about many calls, but the second I saw her I was infuriated,” said County Animal Services Lieutenant Mitchell Levy. “The dog must have been in excruciating pain and the owner had numerous options other than leaving her to suffer for days.”
Levy said she would have eventually died from infection if not treated. County veterinary staff was forced to amputate the rest of the dog’s leg the day after she arrived at the County’s animal care facility on Gaines Street.
Levy says despite her injury, the dog is sweet, loving and outgoing. Her name is Solei (Sol-ay) and she’s recovered to the point where she can walk well on her three legs.
County Animal Services is now taking special adoption applications. Potential adopters can fill out the applications online. They can be dropped off at any of the three shelters, mailed or faxed to 619-767-2706. The deadline for submittal is Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 5:30 p.m.
County Animal Services will review the applications and the top five candidates will be contacted on Thursday, Jan. 26. The five candidates will have a chance to meet with Solei and from there, County Animal Services will have a drawing to pick the lucky winner.
Animal Services has submitted an animal cruelty charge against the owner to the District Attorney’s office. A second person may also face charges. If convicted, each defendant could face up to three years in prison, a fine of up to $20,000, or both.
County Animal Services says if an owner is unable to care for a pet due to finances, the owner should call them at 619-767-2675 for referral to many resources that are available to help people and their pets.
All three County animal care facilities are open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The facilities are located at 5480 Gaines St. in San Diego; 2481 Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad and 5821 Sweetwater Road in Bonita.
