http://www.project-hope.net/victories.html
Project Hope, In Defense of Animals

Project Hope's Victories
Project Hope Helps Chained and Abandoned Dog
"Cole" found starving and dehydrated in 100+ degree Mississippi heat

In rural Mississippi, Doll Stanley, Director of Project Hope sanctuary and IDA Mid-South, continues to work around the clock for animals in need. In a recent case, Doll received a voicemail message explaining that a family in a nearby county had moved and left their dog behind. That evening Doll and IDA staff member Eric Phelps went to investigate.

Doll and Eric drove around on completely darkened streets in a remote town miles away from Project Hope. When they finally arrived, the grass was unmowed and very high and there were no lights, so it was difficult to see the medium-sized, greyish-black dog, who they later named Cole. Beyond dark outside by this time, they parked their car where the lights would give them something to work with, and got out to make their way toward the dog who was tethered to a mobile home.

It had been over a hundred degrees in Mississippi for nearly a week straight. It was apparent that Cole had been there outside, chained by the neck to that trailer with little shade, no food, and only a small amount of filthy water for at least that long. He had been left to slowly die by his previous guardian. At first Cole was a little skittish, but soon realized Doll and Eric were there to help. Although he was severely underweight with his ribs and skull bones protruding, Cole still managed to wag his tail for his rescuers as they removed the chain and gently placed him in a carrier inside the air-conditioned car.

Back at Project Hope, Cole was given a comfortable, clean place to sleep, fresh water, and a little food. Knowing he had not eaten in what must have been a week or more, his caregivers did not want to risk the dog's eating too much too quickly before they could get him to the vet.

The next morning at the vet's office, Doll and Eric received the bad news that they had both feared: Cole was not going to make it. His age (estimated to be 10 years), combined with a very advanced stage of heartworm, made it very difficult for him to breathe, and was too debilitating for him to be saved. Rather than seeing him suffer any longer, Doll and Eric made the difficult decision to have the vet euthanize Cole. While it was the saddest possible outcome, they took solace in knowing Cole died with dignity in loving arms, and that he knew comfort and peace during his final hours.

Several days later, Doll went to the local sheriff's office and filed animal cruelty charges against Cole's previous guardian. Fortunately, the county in which this horrific neglect took place is one where Doll has had a lot of success in prosecuting animal cruelty cases. IDA is pushing for the stiffest penalty available in hopes that justice will be served to the individuals who left a living being behind to die alone, helplessly chained to his home.

Learn more about IDA's efforts to save chained dogs from lives of neglect and suffering. Also support the important work of Project Hope by making a tax-deductible donation to IDA.