By DELANIA TRIGG, Register Staff Writer
A portion of County Road 216 has become a dumping ground for dead animals according to Cooke County Pct. 2 Commissioner Steve Key.
“A couple of weeks ago, someone reported a bag of dead dogs on 216 south of Gainesville. My guys went out there with a backhoe and buried them,” Key said Friday morning.
Key said the dead dogs were pit bull terrier puppies.
A fourth puppy Key believes was part of the same litter was found injured.
Key said he picked up the dog and took her to a local veterinary clinic for treatment.
“Her leg was broken. and she has some asphalt burns on her tummy,” Key said. “She was probably hit by a car on the road.”
The dog — whom Key named Lucky — is mending well after treatment at the Refinery Road Veterinary Clinic, he added.
“The vet said it was a clean break. She didn’t require surgery, just a splint,” he said.
Key said he split the $200 vet bill with Cooke County Judge John Roane who was with Key when he picked up the injured dog.
The commissioner said animal dumping happens frequently on CR 216.
“I’ve buried everything from cats and dogs to cattle and even llamas,” he said.
Key’s theory is that many of the dead animals are dumped by irresponsible or greedy pet owners operating puppy mills.
“These puppy mills are breeding dogs, and when they don’t act like (the owners) want, if they aren’t mean enough or don’t look just right, they’ll kill them and dump them.”
Key also said the dumping isn’t limited to puppy mill operators.
Even ordinary citizens often use the road for dumping dead animals.
“I had a guy with a dead dog in the back of his pickup ask me if he could just dump it (the dog’s body) in the ditch. I told him no... It’s more than cruel. These dead animals are also a public health hazard,” he said.
Key said it isn’t unusual for motorists to report multiple dead animals including entire litters of dead puppies, some stuffed into bags like garbage and tossed onto the roadside.
He said he is so upset about the dumping, he’s offering a reward for information on residents who dispose of animals on the roads in his precinct.
“If we can get people to start reporting these puppy mills, maybe we can get some interest. We’ve got to stop the killing. It’s heart breaking. I’m tired of burying dead dogs. If (the public) has information about people dumping dogs, I’ll supply a $200 reward,” he said.
As for Lucky, Key said the buff-colored pup is sweet-tempered and friendly.
“She’s just gorgeous. She slept in a crate beside the bed last night and doesn’t want me out of her sight,” he said.
Key, who has pets of his own, said he’s hoping a kind-hearted resident will take Lucky in and foster her until her leg heals and she can be adopted.
“She’ll need some special care for a while. She has to have the splint on for six weeks,” he noted.
Residents can report animal cruelty including pet dumping, dog fighting activities and other incidents of animal abuse to the Cooke County Sheriff’s Office at 665-3471.
The Texas Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) focuses its rescue and investigative efforts in 15 Texas counties including Cooke, Dallas and Denton Counties.
The organization’s Web site allows residents to report animal abuse online. Visit www.spca.org for more information.
