Summary
A dog that was hit by an elderly driver and dragged several blocks in St. Albans could be up for adoption by Monday. But Chance, the female boxer mix named for her unlikely second shot at life by a St. Albans police officer, still has several weeks of treatment ahead of her at Gateway Animal Hospital in St. Albans. No one has come forward claiming to be Chances owner, and donations are being accepted to help pay for her medical care. Veterinarians said she is in critical but stable condition. The incident occurred near the BB&T branch on Sixth Avenue about 11:30 a.m. A witness who was standing at the nearby Rite Aid saw the elderly driver dragging the dog under his vehicle. He was apparently unaware of the situation. The witness called police. Ryan McCallister, a veterinary assistant at Gateway, was brought in to help officers. Her leg was caught up in the minivans undercarriage, he said. A jack was used to lift the minivan. Officers were able to pull Chance from the undercarriage once her leg was freed, McCallister said. She actually tried to stand up when we got her out, he said. The dog was in shock, McCallister said. She did not growl and yelped only a couple of times as officers and others worked to pull her from her predicament. The driver of the minivan was identified only as a 79- year-old man. He has not been charged, but police officers have requested he be reexamined for his drivers license. Officers consider Chance a stray because she had no collar or tags. However, veterinarians at Gateway said she is in good physical health. Shes had some care at one point, so I would say she hasnt been a stray for very long, Dr. Jessica Grady said. Right now the dog is a ward of the animal shelter, said Dr. Erica Drake, another veterinarian at Gateway. Shes at our facility and were treating her for the shelter at this point. It could be two or three weeks until the dog has recovered, or it could be longer, Drake said. The shelter is accepting donations to pay for Chances care, said Donna Clark, director of the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association. The dog is being treated for severe road rash on her left side and puncture wounds on her leg and tail, Drake said. An X-ray on Wednesday showed no fractures, Grady said. Because infections can develop and even require skin graphs, the road rash is the biggest concern, she said. Shes on pain medication and topical creams for the road rash, Drake said. Well continue to treat those wounds and monitor her. And shes on antibiotics, of course. The dog weighs about 40 pounds and is about 3 years old. Drake said Chance may not be a stray because a collar and tags could have been pulled off when the vehicle hit the dog. Anyone claiming ownership would have to present proof, such as veterinary bills or pictures of the dog, Clark said. Donations can be sent to the St. Albans or Charleston Gateway Animal Hospital locations. The address for the St. Albans facility is 55 MacCorkle Ave., St. Albans, WV 25177. The address for the Charleston facility is 1246 Greenbrier St., Charleston, WV 25311. Chances name should be written on the memo line of the check, Clark said. Those wishing to adopt her can go to the animal shelter at 1248 Greenbrier St. in Charleston. A new owner would be required to pay the veterinary bills incurred from the time of adoption, Clark said. A $79 adoption fee also would be required, she said. That covers shots and spaying. Shes a real good girl, Grady said. Whoever adopts her will get a real good dog.
TOM HINDMAN/DAILY MAIL A female boxer mix is in critical but stable condition at the Gateway Animal Hospital in St. Albans after being dragged two or three blocks by an elderly man driving a minivan on Tuesday. If no one claims ownership, the dog, which is being called Chance, will be available for adoption at the Kanawha- Charleston Animal Shelter by Monday.See the full content of this document
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Dog Dragged by Van May Be Up for Adoption
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