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LAMBERTVILLE: ‘Bait dog’ is on mend and needs a home

By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
   LAMBERTVILLE — The same qualities that would make a small pit bull puppy a good pet are what nearly got her killed.
   Animal Alliance, a nonprofit based in Lambertville, rescued the black-and-white pup after she was left in the snowy streets of Philadelphia. The rescue organization said she had been “very badly abused.” She had been used as a “bait dog” in a dog-fighting operation.
   Animal Alliance named her Kelly and got her the veterinary care she needed. Kelly is on the mend, thanks to donated care from three different vets. She’s living with a foster family, and soon she’ll need a good permanent home. Estimated at between 6 and 9 months old, the dog is sweet and submissive, Anne Trinkle, Animal Alliance’s executive director, said. These are the qualities sought by dog-fighting operations when they want a bait dog. They want a dog that won’t fight back.
   ”These fights between two powerful dogs are started by throwing a ‘bait dog,’ like Kelly, between them,” Animal Alliance explained. “Bait dogs are small, submissive dogs that are torn apart by the two dogs, who will ultimately redirect their aggression to each other, leaving the bait dog badly wounded. Used time and again to start fights, bait dogs are usually killed in the ring — or they may be abandoned when they are no longer of use to the pit bull fighters.”
   Injuries typically suffered by bait dogs are the same types of wounds Kelly had when Animal Alliance took her in. Kelly had large, open wounds on her legs, head and ears. Her lower jaw had been broken, and the bone was exposed, infected and painful.
   ”Thrown out into the bitter cold and snow by her abusers, Kelly was staggering through the streets of Philadelphia in great pain before being picked up by Animal Control,” Animal Alliance said. “As you can imagine, Kelly is quite timid and scared, but gives happy tail wags when you talk to her. She’s sweet as can be, and Animal Alliance is desperate to give her a second chance at the wonderful life she deserves.”
   ”We really depend on rescue organizations like Animal Alliance to help with these horrible cases of abuse and neglect,” said Natalie Smith, director of lifesaving at Pennsylvania SPCA’s Animal Care and Control facility, where Kelly was impounded as a stray. “As a very busy and underfunded city shelter, we lack the funds to provide specialized veterinary care such as the kind Kelly needs.”
   Of all her wounds, the broken jaw was the most serious. She would have starved to death without veterinary care. Recovering now, she’ll take liquid feedings for about six weeks.
   Three local vets at different central New Jersey practices are collaborating to help Animal Alliance assist Kelly in her recovery. First, Kelly is receiving much-needed medical veterinary care for her open wounds as well as highly specialized orthopedic surgery performed by Dr. Wendy Ross at Crown Veterinary Specialists, in Lebanon. Crown Vet, a multi-specialty referral hospital, is extending a substantial courtesy discount to Animal Alliance to help heal Kelly, according to Animal Alliance.
   Pre-operative care was donated by Dr. Lesley Vannerson at Yardville Animal Hospital. Post-operative care is being managed by Animal Alliance’s veterinarian, Dr. Lorraine Marks at Round Valley Animal Hospital, also in Lebanon.
   Persons interested in adopting Kelly should visit Animal Alliance’s website, www.animalalliancenj.org, or call 818-1952.
   Donations to Kelly’s care may be made by going to www.animalalliancenj.org and clicking “Donate Now.”