Police seek owner of injured dog, say animal had rope imbedded in neck

By: JoAnn Merrigan | WSAV-TV
Published: March 12, 2010

It’s a story that's will bother all animal lovers. A young Golden Retriever is recovering after being found recently by Savannah police with a nylon rope imbedded in its neck. The dog, estimated to be anywhere from six months to one year old, was immediately taken to a vet who had to perform urgery to remove the rope.

Friday, volunteers from a group that rescues Golden Retrievers came to the Savannah animal shelter to take the young dog. "We will continue to get him medical check ups, fix him up and take care of him."

Bryson is from the group Grateful Golden Rescue of the Lowcountry. He told me he named the young dog Gabriel. "When I first saw him and realized all he'd been through, I thought he's a little angel. But Angel seems like a girl's name so I named for a "boy" angel," he told me.

Lt. Brenda Boulware from Animal Control says the dog was running around and unattended on March 5. "I see this a lot," she told me. "It's just a total irresponsiblity on the part of the owner."

Boulware says owners are not supposed to tether an animal or attach them to a rope and leave them out. "That's against the law," she says. "If the owner is found, that person could be charged with animial neglect or even animal cruelty."

Bryson says they will watch over Gabriel and one day "hopefully find him a better home than the one he came from."

Anyone with information about the dog is asked to call Savannah-Chatham Animal Control.