This morning on my way to work, I was driving through a not very nice part of town when I saw a Rottweiler on the sidewalk limping pretty bad - looked to me like he had been hit by a car. I called in to Chicago’s non-emergency number. They took the report and said they would notify animal control. I wasn’t impressed with their response, so I turned back and thought maybe he’d be friendly and I could get him into my car until animal control showed up. Seeing as how dog fighting is rampant in this part of town, and knowing he was injured, I knew I couldn’t take any chances with my own safety, but I had to see what I could do to help. I saw him near a part of a park where there is a mini golf course. When I drove back, I immediately spied him, sprawled out right on one of the greens – I thought he was dead.I parked on the sidewalk to hopefully attract a cop’s attention, grabbed my phone and headed over to him. The entire area is fenced off, so I couldn’t get too close, but he lifted his head so at least I knew he was still alive. By this time I was on the phone with animal control telling them exactly where I was and to hurry because when he saw me, he sat for a minute, then got up and started limping away from me. I tried to follow as best I could, but I was on one side of the fence with him on the other, and some small hills coming up to block my line of site. I lost him behind the hills,
), so I left. I called animal control back to let them know that if they found him, and he was “salvageable,” I would pay his medical bills if they would not just immediately put him down. The girl said they really don’t have “systems set up for that” but that I could make a donation if I liked. I explained again that I just wanted to see if it was possible to give him a chance rather than just put him down right away. She went on to explain that if they did find him, his chances weren’t good because somebody had reported being bitten by a Rottweiler in the same area, and once they bite somebody…
He looked like he was in pretty rough shape – limping so bad his one back leg never touched the ground - looked all scruffy like he had been on the streets for awhile, and I couldn’t really tell, but it looked like he had something sticking out of the left side of his neck, almost like the remains of a leash, but instead of just hanging down like a leash would, this stuck straight out, almost like it was embedded in his neck.
So anyway, I left, and I have no idea if they found him or not. If they don’t find him this time, I’m sure they’ll find him soon, or he’ll die amongst the weeds.
Out of all the years I’ve been driving through this neighborhood to work, this is the first time something like this has happened, and I’m just devastated I couldn’t do more. More than likely he will die, either on his own or at the hands of animal control. All because some egotistical jerk just had to have a “big mean dog” to make himself look tough, and then couldn’t use the dog anymore so let him go to run the streets and fend for himself. It’s entirely possible the dog lost a dog fight and the so-called owner just let him go because he was of no use to him, although usually they’ll just use a dog like that for bait for other dog fights.
I’m so sad that people are mean enough to treat animals like this, and I’m so sad I couldn’t do more to help him.
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You shouldn't feel bad. You did all you could!! That's so awesome that you offered to pay the dogs medical bills. You did a LOT more than most people would have done. I feel like crying for the dog and for you feeling so bad. You are a wonderful person for doing what you did. Thank you for being that kind of person.
I miss you
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