Milan police investigating after puppy found with embedded collar
A black Labrador Retriever puppy is recovering from serious injuries after Milan police found the pet inside a home last week with a nylon collar embedded in its neck, authorities say.
The 11-month-old puppy "Lou" was discovered chained up inside a County Street home after police responded to an animal cruelty complaint Oct. 23.
"The (collar) actually cut into the side of the neck, so it was bleeding," Milan Police Chief Jeffrey Lewis said.
Lewis said the collar dug a quarter-inch into the dog's neck.
It's unclear whether criminal charges will be filed. City attorneys, who are reviewing the case, could not be reached for comment today.
The dog's owner told police it was "hyperactive," and she was trying to keep the dog under control, Lewis said.
She signed away her rights as an owner, and the animal is being treated at DHK Animal Rescue in Milan, said Nancy Kilian, the rescue organization's owner.
"He had a raging infection," Kilian said. "The tissue was just so deteriorated in there. It was awful."
There was a maggot in the wound, Kilian said.
Kilian has owned the rescue organization for 16 years and has handled hundreds of embedded collar cases. She said Lou's is "the worst" she's seen.
The dog was treated with antibiotics, and a woman visited the rescue organization Thursday to give the pup a healing massage, Kilian said.
"He was just rolling around when the lady did the massage yesterday," Kilian said. "He's a real happy-go-lucky dog."
The organization is looking for a family to adopt "Lou." Anyone interested can call Kilian at (734) 323-1089.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at leehiggins@annarbor.com or 734-623-2527.
Comments
Salinemary
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 9:41 a.m.
Thank you, Nancy Kilian, for rescuing this dog.
Sherry
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 11:44 a.m.
This person of course should be charged and found guilty. What she did is a crime. As sick and disgusting as to what happened to this Lab, Animals have more rights than children. Children are being hurt and molested all the time and the judges we have only give them a slap on the wrist for hurting a child, to hurt an animal you go to Prison. It is all very sickening to even think about any of this. I think that all the ones who hurt a child or an animal should have rights but the ones who abuse a child should never see the light of day again, for animals they should get no less than 5 years of prison time and never be allowed around an animal again.
nojoke35
Sun, Nov 1, 2009 : 12:10 a.m.
it really does saddens me to hear about animal cruelty. i had a dog who had puppies and one of the puppies i gave to a friend and they gave it to someone. the dog was neglected the friend brought the dog back to me it was in such poor condition i took it to the humane society. i prayed that they did not euthanize the poor thing i had its mother for eight years until she died of lupus. she was family. i miss her so much. so it really does saddens me to hear of animals being neglected.
bunnyabbot
Sat, Oct 31, 2009 : 9:46 p.m.
I was going to type a whole bunch, but I can sum it up by saying this makes me hate people.
liberal1
Sat, Oct 31, 2009 : 10:14 a.m.
Is the dog's owner hyperactive???? Soution?
Angela
Sat, Oct 31, 2009 : 10:05 a.m.
@ Homeland Conspiracy: My anger whilst reading this would have been the same regardless of what type of animal it was. -Animal abuse should not be tolerated. If you can't treat an animal with love and respect, then you shouldn't own one. Puppies are hyperactive. That's common sense. -@ djm: Once again, I couldn't agree with you more. -@ goodthoughts: I like your way of thinking! =D
goodthoughts
Sat, Oct 31, 2009 : 9:04 a.m.
People this ignorant make me sick. Only justice is having her suffer the way the puppy did.
djm12652
Sat, Oct 31, 2009 : 9:01 a.m.
Wow, more people are responding about this poor dog than than the probable numerous child porno victims in an other article. And regards to a post..."this little guy"? nope, sorry, it's a puppy not a guy....
rreidannarbor
Sat, Oct 31, 2009 : 7:39 a.m.
This is inexecusable. Hyperactivity or pooping on the rug or whatever is never an excuse for something like this. There is NO excuse. Scary thing is, this is probably the tip of a bigger iceberg, just like dog fighting. We can't be in the back yard of every pet owner in the county so God only knows how many other unreported cases of this are going on. The penalty should fit the crime.
Indicat
Fri, Oct 30, 2009 : 9:37 p.m.
I hope that charges are filed, and that she is never allowed to own an animal again. There is no excuse for this type of treatment of any animal.
conservative liberal
Fri, Oct 30, 2009 : 9:10 p.m.
What an awful story, however, I'm so glad that people are speaking up and reporting animal cruelty. Some people are just so ignorant when it comes to pet ownership. Embedded collars are not something that occurs overnight, it is caused by a too tight choke for MONTHS. This woman had to be mentally challenged if she did not notice this before today. Please push for harsher penalties for animal cruelty, it's inexcusable.
Homeland Conspiracy
Fri, Oct 30, 2009 : 5:51 p.m.
I wonder if the reaction would be the same if it was a cow,chicken,& or a pig
wolverine73
Fri, Oct 30, 2009 : 4:42 p.m.
Anyone who abuses a defenseless animal needs to be criminally prosecuted. There are no excuses for abusing any animal. Was this women also blind? Did she not see the damage that was being done? Or did she just not care? Sometimes ignorance and stupidity go hand in hand. I hope this little guy finds a home with people that understand and love him so unlike this women in Milan.
David Briegel
Fri, Oct 30, 2009 : 4:04 p.m.
And they can become gun owners! Drive cars, drink booze, or all three!
81wolverine
Fri, Oct 30, 2009 : 3:56 p.m.
This kind of mistreatment (unless there's some VERY extenuating circumstances) should be a criminal offense. So, I hope the City attorneys pursue the case. Saying the dog was "hyperactive" and needed to be kept under control is a pathetic excuse by the former owner. It blows my mind how people like this become pet owners.
grimdaddy1
Fri, Oct 30, 2009 : 3:41 p.m.
people who will hurt animals like this will hurt people in simalr ways, hope to god this house doesn't have kids in it.