By April Amadon
The investigation is continuing into the case of a puppy that was reportedly dragged behind a car on Lake Avenue on Saturday.
The 6-month-old cocker spaniel underwent two hours of surgery and is now being treated in the infirmary at the SPCA Serving Erie County in Tonawanda, where officials have been taking dozens of calls offering donations for the dog’s care.
Witnesses say they saw the puppy being pulled behind a gray Chevrolet Lumina at the K&K; Food Mart near Cold Springs Road.
The dog was tied to the back of the car by a leash, the report said.
A witness ran to the car to get it to stop, and a teenage girl driver got out, along with a teenage male passenger. They opened the trunk of the car to release the leash, then got back in the car and fled on Old Niagara Road, the report said.
The dog was left in the back parking lot.
Linda Tilton, the manager of K&K;, took the dog to Wright’s Corners Animal Care Center and then to Buffalo Veterinary Emergency Clinic, where the dog underwent two hours of emergency surgery.
Gina Browning, public relations director at the SPCA Serving Erie County, said Tuesday the dog may require more surgery at the SPCA.
The vet clinic bill for the work performed Saturday totaled $3,776. The director of the emergency clinic offered Tilton a discount of $576, bringing the total to $3,200.
Tilton, who plans to adopt the puppy and name him “Walker,” has paid $1,500 of that bill and is trying to work out a payment plan for the additional $1,700, the report said.
Browning said the SPCA will provide further medical treatments and more surgery, if needed.
The dog suffered open wounds, including exposed bones in each of his paws where the skin was scraped away. Dr. Helene Chevalier of the SPCA said the dog is wearing pain patches and is on antibiotics to prevent infections.
Kay Pack of Lewiston said Tuesday she was donating money to help pay the bill. Pack said she was “devastated” when she saw the story in the newspaper.
“I couldn’t talk when I saw that,” she said. “They should drag (the suspects) behind a car and see how they like it..”
Pack said she admires Tilton for her dedication to the dog.
“I really give that woman credit,” she said. “It’s gonna be an awful big bill, so I just want to help.”
