GA: Puppy beaten and buried alive gets second chance at life

Puppy beaten and buried alive gets second chance at life
WJBF staff Published: September 14, 2015, 9:46 pm

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – A dog got a second chance at life after he was found beaten and buried alive.

This four-month-old puppy is lucky to be alive. Staff at Westside Animal Hospital took him in last week after Augusta Animal Services found him on Boy Scout Road.

“When this little guy came in he was nearly comatose,” said Scarlett Timmons, a veterinarian. “He could not stand or hardly look at you, much less eat or drink when he came in.”

Timmons tells News Channel 6 the mixed breed was buried alive with a large swelling on the top part of his head and several ant bites. She said he was trying to dig his way out when he was rescued.

The staff even gave him a name.

“Hey Moxie!” Timmons greeted him. “He says I still have a long way to go, but I am improving every day,” she said on behalf of the dog who was inside a cage and connected to an IV in insolation.

Moxie has a second chance at life, but that could mean brain damage.

“Potentially could be long term affects. There is still a large amount of swelling in his head. It could be a period of time before we know the extent of damages, but we are pleased to see him regain normal function of being able to eat and drink and stand on his own,” she explained.

Sgt. Shane McDaniel said the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is not handling the case and no report has been field.

“Animals are the same as people so to speak,” he said meaning they need to be fed and taken care of too.

He added that anyone who harms an animal is looking at a $1,000 to $15,000 fine and jail time.

“Charges could go anywhere from cruelty to animals, which is a misdemeanor charge to aggravated cruelty to animals, which is a felony charge,” he said.

The non-profit group Dog Networking Agents, Inc. is covering Moxie’s bill at Westside. That group also has a reward for any information connected to Moxie’s incident.

Augusta Animal Services did not respond to request about how or where Moxie was found. A spokesperson in the office said they would post any updates to the Facebook page here.

Anyone with information about Moxie’s incident can call Augusta Animal Services or the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

Puppy beaten and buried alive gets second chance at life | WATE 6 On Your Side