Abandoned Animals Becoming Problem In Rural Oklahoma

Illegal dumping of unwanted animals is becoming a big problem in rural Oklahoma. It's an issue made even worse when the animal is abused as well as abandoned. News On 6 anchor Craig Day went to Creek

Thursday, March 29th 2007, 4:25 pm

By: News On 6

Illegal dumping of unwanted animals is becoming a big problem in rural Oklahoma. It's an issue made even worse when the animal is abused as well as abandoned. News On 6 anchor Craig Day went to Creek County, near the Pawnee County line, to learn about a case that has one dog fighting to survive. He reports animal lovers are upset, shocked and saddened by the case.

Theresa White was out walking her dogs when she saw something that made her heart sink.

"My dog found it and we walked over it and could see that it was still alive," she said.

White quickly got help from her neighbor Bill Buntin.

"It's kind of hard to believe people would do a dog like that," said Buntin.

"Its injuries were just gaping open and you could see the injury on its stomach and its leg and its neck," White said.

The dog, a Husky mix believed to be a couple of years old, was found abandoned, dehydrated and severely injured. He's being treated for a gunshot wound to his shoulder and a cut on his neck. The dog also has a hernia and maybe other internal injuries, possibly from being kicked repeatedly.

"Left to die. I think he was shot and left to die," White said.

People who live in the area say someone drops off a dog illegally at least every two weeks. And whether they're abused or just abandoned, many have to be euthanized. It's too early to tell if the Husky mix will have to be put to sleep, or if he'll be ok. White and Buntin both say what is certain is the situation is sad and wrong.

If the dog survives, it will be placed with an animal welfare group. Those volunteers will find the animal a permanent home.