**Update: April 7, 2016**
“A very poised, polite lady,” Aurora the Great Dane is doing much better following her duct-tape ordeal. She retained no permanent damage from the tape, but scored only a 4 out of 9 on her Body Condition Index.
[bp_related_article]
She has a serious infestation of whip and hook worms, is underweight (only 92 pounds—for a Dane!), suffered a laceration to her paw, and tested positive for heartworm.
The good news is Aurora is in very capable hands, and is nearly $3,000 past her fundraising goal. The Darlington County Humane Society will funnel any excess funds for Aurora’s care directly to other animals who need it.
Because her abuse case is still very much active, Aurora has not been released to the shelter just yet. Any adoption applications can be filled out and submitted “with the understanding that [the shelter has] had a LOT of interest in rehoming her AND she will not be available immediately for rehoming.”
Nevertheless, Aurora has started to wag her tail a little and is showing more and more affection toward her caretakers. She has a lengthy recovery ahead, but this girl’s got a lot of spirit in her yet!
Again, anyone with information regarding her abuse is encouraged to call the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office at 843-398-4501 or 843-398-4920.
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These stories happen all too often—someone duct tapes a dog’s muzzle and then abandons them to die. Heartbreaking isn’t the word for it, I think these stories devastate us. And yet, it’s so easy at this point to turn the other way because there are so many of these stories, but the only way we can stop them is to learn about them and help police identify the perpetrators.
That’s what police in Darlington County, South Carolina are hoping local citizens will do—help them catch the person who duct taped nearly all of a dog’s face.
According to the Darling County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, an anonymous caller left a tip about a dog wandering around the 900 block of Rogers Road. Deputies found the dog and successfully removed the duct tape, which surrounded her muzzle, the sides of her face, and her forehead.
Rescuers have named the pup Aurora and started a GoFundMe account for her. Here’s what the rescue has to say about her current status:
We do not YET know what all of her medical needs will be BUT we want to be prepared. We are high intake, very rural shelter located in Darlington County SC with a budget of $0 to care for a pet with medical emergencies.
The good news is that Aurora is safe and in the hands of people who will love and care for her. All that remains is for police to find the person who did this to her. If you have any information, please contact the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office at (843) 398-4501 or (843) 398-4920.
