Australian Shepherd thrives months after being attacked; man convicted of beating her to be sentenced today

Annie, now 11 months, sits in the family room of her new home in the Whitmore Lake.

Art Aisner | For AnnArbor.com

Tears well up in Jerry Nordblom’s eyes when he thinks about how it could have ended.

He imagines her hiding somewhere behind an abandoned park bench, amid the trash accumulated during a typical summer day last August. Bloodied, broken limbs throbbing, and all alone.

That could have been how Brownie, a 5-month-old Australian Shepherd at the time, died. Had it not been for the good timing of a passerby’s curious dog in an Ypsilanti park, it likely would have been.

Her life is much different now.

On a recent day, she sprawled along the plush rug with her two new best canine friends, also rescue dogs, enjoying the sunshine coming through a large picture window and the unconditional love of her new owners.

That’s the life Nordblom and wife Barbara have created for the puppy, now known as Annie, since adopting her in November. They try not to think much of that night or other negative experiences Annie may have had before misfortune brought her to their door.

Eric Jason Rutley

But today, they will be reminded when the man convicted of beating her is sentenced for animal cruelty/torture. Eric Rutley will appear this afternoon in Washtenaw County Circuit Court.

Rutley, 29, pleaded no contest to the charge and to felonious assault in an attack on his girlfriend that night. He also pleaded guilty to marijuana possession and witness intimidation charges.

Nordblom sent a letter to Circuit Judge David Swartz on Annie’s behalf and will be allowed to give a victim's impact statement today before Rutley is sentenced.

“It frightens me to think how she would’ve suffered out there,” Nordblom said. “If you can’t show compassion to an animal, you’re not likely to show it to other human beings.”

Authorities say Rutley beat the dog with a tire iron and dumped her in the park before returning home, where he then focused his anger on his girlfriend.

Washtenaw County Public Defender Lloyd Powell, whose office represents Rutley, would not discuss specifics of the case. He said Rutley received the best possible legal representation given the facts.

Swartz may require an explanation for Rutley's actions, but Nordblom said it will be irrelevant to him. What he wants the court and Rutley to know today is how well Annie is doing.

The fractures to her hind left leg were too severe to repair and doctors amputated the leg about a month after she was rescued by the Humane Society of Huron Valley. An outpouring of community support helped the organization raise several thousand dollars for Annie’s surgeries and continued medical care.

Doctors inserted a metal plate, four screws and three pins in Annie’s front right leg to stabilize it, though they don’t believe it will ever reach full growth potential, Barbara said.

That said, Annie’s fortunate her two good legs are on opposite sides of her body to help with strength and balance. She takes six to seven extended walks a day on the 2.5 acre-fenced area on Nordblom’s Whitmore Lake property.

Jerry Nordblom and wife Barbara adopted Annie after she was severly injured in a brutal attack with a tire iron last summer.

Art Aisner | For AnnArbor.com

She saunters through the snow, trying to keep up with Duke, a 7-year-old black lab/retriever mix, and Cori, a 6-year-old border collie/beagle mix.

The couple, who married 31 years ago and retired together from Pfizer, also have eight cats that were either rescued by the Humane Society or adopted from the wild.

Annie is now 40 pounds, gaining strength, and although she still shows discomfort from the injuries, has adjusted well physically. X-rays at a recent evaluation showed enough progress to delay another veterinary visit for six months - a luxury considering Annie bi-weekly check-ups not that long ago.

Her favorites are chewing cow hooves and Arby’s sandwiches, Barbara said.

“Considering what she went through, she’s quite an amazing animal,” Nordblom said. “She gentle and she just loves all of God’s creatures.”

He credits much of that to Humane Society volunteer Jeri Humbarger, who initially fostered Annie and nursed her back to health following several surgeries.

If the dog’s progress continues, she could follow the tracks of Cori, a registered therapy dog that Jerry frequently takes to hospitals, senior centers and schools. He hopes for a similar future for Annie, who at the very least is a prime example of the good the Humane Society and community can do together.

“She’ll be a heck of a spokesdog with her personality and incredible story,” he said. “It could have been so much more tragic.”

Updated story:Â Man convicted of beating puppy with tire iron in Ypsilanti receives 2-4 years in prison

Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.