Officers are looking for a suspect after a dog was brought into the Humane Society Wednesday with severe cuts from chicken wire tightly wound around her neck.
Melody, a four-year-old spaniel, was found abandoned at a plant nursery at N. River Road in Oceanside.
"The way the chicken wire was tied indicates that this was an intentional act. The injuries she has suffered cut into her flesh all the way to the bone. She's very lucky to be alive," Steve MacKinnon, Chief of Humane Law Enforcement for San Diego Humane Society said. "We've opened an investigation to find the person(s) responsible for her injuries, but we, unfortunately, have very little information about what happened. We're asking the community to please report any information or possible leads so we can find the person responsible, or Melody's previous owners."
Humane Society vets performed immediate reconstructive surgery on Melody. She has been given a positive prognosis regarding her injuries and rehabilitation.
"What happened to Melody is horrific and, unfortunately, we see animal cruelty like this all too often,” Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of San Diego Humane Society said. “We rely on information from the community to be able to seek justice for these animals who are unable to defend themselves. Fighting animal cruelty is one of our primary missions so we can give animals like Melody the second chance they deserve."
The Society’s law enforcement division has opened an animal cruelty case in the hope of pursuing felony charges.
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for any information that leads to an arrest. Leads can be reported through an anonymous tip line on their website or by calling (888) 580-8477. Information can also be reported to the San Diego Humane Society’s website or by calling (619) 243-3466.
