Felicity, an eight-month-old Pit Bull mix, was found by animal control officer in Kentucky tied to a fence in front of a house — not her own house. She was abandoned without food or water. A neighbor noticed the dog, and knowing the resident did not own dogs, eventually called animal control.
The evidence of animal abuse that the officer found shocked staff at the Lexington Humane Society, where the pup was taken. There was scarring and scabbing on her hindquarters and a profane word — “f–k” — had been chemically burned or branded into her skin. The AP said that those who burned her probably used a chemical paste or liquid.
“It had to be brutal,” Madison Carey, development director for the humane society, told the Herald-Leader. “Having to think about how they held her down and branded her is absolutely horrible.”
Lt. Lee Agee, cruelty investigator with Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control, said investigators canvassed the area that Felicity was found but so far don’t have any leads. The Lexington Humane Society is offering a $3,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Felicity’s abuser, thanks to people who have come forward and pledged money after hearing about her story.
“I’m not sure that we’ll ever be able to figure out who did it,” he said.
However, Felicity won’t have to go through life with the brand. In fact, it’s already been covered up. Thanks to Lexington Humane Society program called Second Chances, which is dedicated to animals that have suffered “extreme circumstances,” Felicity had plastic surgery to cover up the word.
“That way, she won’t be defined by the scar,” said Carey.
Lexington Humane Society development manager Ashley Hammond told WKYT, “We think [it] will make her a little more adoptable, and we don’t want people to make judgments on her based on her appearance.
Felicity is recovering and is still available for adoption. Check out the Lexington Humane Society website and Facebook page for more information.
“She is so sweet and so accepting of people,” Carey said. “I think she knows that we’re helping her. She really deserves a loving forever home.”
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