‘It’s a big day,’ says Trooper’s adoptive mom
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By STEPHANIE WADDELL
Whitehorse Star

These days, Trooper greets visitors to his foster home, quickly getting up from the comfort of his dog house to stroll over to bask in the attention and pets from visitors.
It’s been four months since he was found slowly wandering, hurt with severe road rash injuries, around the industrial area after being abandoned there by his former owner.
Stanley Gostel was found guilty Thursday of breaking the city’s Animal Control Bylaw by abandoning him.
With the court process concluded, it means his foster mom can now officially adopt him.
Trooper returns to his dog house after some attention from the visitors. He’s not leaving the side of his new family when she comes home.
Asking not to be identified due to the court case, his new mom can’t walk around the yard without Trooper following her wherever she goes.
“You’re mine now,” she tells him. “You get to stay.”
Then, addressing the media, she states: “He’s been like this since day one.”
Thursday’s court sentencing saw Gostel banned from owing a pet for two years.
He was also ordered to pay a fine of $250 as well as $2,022 in restitution to the Mae Bachur Animal Shelter for Trooper’s veterinary expenses after he was turned over to the shelter.
Trooper was given his name by staff at the shelter after he was found two days after he had been dragged down part of Hamilton Boulevard and left in front of the shelter on a day when it was closed.
While it appears he may have gone by the name of Buddy prior to being brought to the shelter, his new mom says she’s sticking with Trooper.
A new gate was put in for him at his mom’s home.
It was when she saw Trooper’s photo in the newspaper that she contacted the shelter about looking after the dog.
These days, his wounds continue to heal and aren’t as evident until they’re pointed out. The stitching is still in, with his new caregiver having to use a spray so they don’t open.
He may also be making a trip to the vet soon to have the skin beneath the stitches stretched out to make it a little more comfortable for Trooper.
While some of the injuries aren’t as obvious as they once were, it is noticeable when she’s brushing him and accidentally comes to one of those spots.
Overall, his new mom says, he’s a well-adjusted dog and she doesn’t believe he was abused before being left in Marwell with his injuries.
“I think he panicked in a bad situation,” she said of Gostel.
In a statement to bylaw officers that was presented at the trial yesterday, Gostel said he didn’t know Trooper was tied to the truck at the time.
Believing the dog might not survive and not being able to pay the vet bill, Gostel drove down to the shelter and left him outside.
Watching Gostel in court, Trooper’s new mom said she “almost felt bad” for him.
Now that the case is over though, she’s looking forward to signing the adoption papers for her dog.
“This is a big day for me,” she said.