Yesterday, we told you about Andre, a miniature pinscher who had his eyes gouged out, likely by the same savage who used him as BB-gun target practice.
In reporting the story, we were stunned to learn that no law enforcement agency was investigating Andre's abuse. That, however, has changed -- we're told the Phoenix Police Department has taken the case.
The delay in the investigation isn't the fault of the police, though -- turns out, nobody called the cops (other than PETA. More on that below); everyone involved apparently just assumed that someone else had alerted authorities about the horrific abuse.
"I honestly thought that this kind of thing was automatically reported by Animal Care and Control to the police department," Dr. Deborah Wilson, a veterinarian with Circle L Ranch Animal Rescue and Sanctuary who helped save Andre, tells New Times.
Where the dog was found is likely what led to the confusion in getting the case reported to law enforcement.
When we contacted the Phoenix Police Department yesterday, Sergeant Tommy Thompson told us detectives had looked into the case. However, PETA told detectives Andre was found in Prescott Valley -- despite putting out a press release claiming the dog was found near 67th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road in Phoenix -- which is out of the P.P.D.'s jurisdiction.
In talking to those who rescued Andre, we discovered that he actually was found near 102nd Avenue and Hess Street, which, we're told, is technically in Tolleson, but falls under the P.P.D.'s jurisdiction.
Thinking it could possibly be a case for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, we contacted the MCSO to find out if they were trying to find whoever it is who hurt Andre.
MCSO spokesman Jeff Sprong tells New Times that the sheriff's office would have taken the case, but the P.P.D. already is looking into it.
So how is it that Animal Care and Control didn't call police when Andre was found?
Wilson provided us with the explanation she got from ACC:
The finder of the dog would have been instructed to report the circumstances of how and where they found it when they called in, they called us to come get a 'caught stray dog'. The related to the officer, I believe, that they found a "moving bag" in a field and discovered the dog walking about with the bag over it. Our Field Officer was not able to confirm anything when they arrived to pick up the dog, it was just a stray with his little eyes sealed shut with goo.
The ACC employee went on to say that when Andre was first brought in, he was in so much pain they considered euthanizing him. However, she "soaked all the dried goo off his poor little eye sockets with warm water and he became remarkably perky, he dove right into a bowl of canned food and was happy as could be to have people making a fuss over him."
Now that the confusion's been cleared up, it's time to track down the sicko who did this to Andre and punish him accordingly.
PETA -- despite being geographically challenged -- has offered a $1,000 reward for help in nabbing the "puppy torturer." Click here for more info.
Additionally, a fundraiser is happening next month at Grimaldi's Pizzeria in Old Town Scottsdale to help raise money for any additional surgery Andre might need. Click here for details.
