Abandoned pit bull puppy gets second chance at life

A pit bull puppy found abandoned near a vacant storefront in Coachella was taken Wednesday to a veterinary facility in Loma Linda for treatment of severe injuries that will likely require amputation of his front legs, Riverside County animal services officials said.

A good Samaritan named Alejandro Felix was driving home from work early Friday morning when he spotted the injured dog, concealed in trash
on the lot of an old market near the intersection of Avenue 53 and Tyler
Street, said John Welsh, spokesman for the Riverside County Department of
Animal Services.

“I saw the reflection of his eyes from my headlights,” Felix said.

The 6-month-old, black-and-white dog, nicknamed “Cooper” by animal
services staff, had severe injuries to his front legs, suggesting he had been
abused.

“He tried to get up,” animal control Officer Jose Fernandez said. “He
was alert. He was responsive. He was wagging his tail. But he could not stand up on his own.”

Animal Control rushed the injured dog to the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms.

A veterinary examination determined the dog would likely need both front
limbs amputated and require the use of prosthetics to get around, according to Welsh.

The doctor prescribed Cooper pain medications and antibiotics.

“It is a very devastating case,” Dr. Strongin said. “The dog is a very sweet dog. When you’re in the kennel with him, he tries to scooch his way toward you.”

Officer Fernandez agreed. “Despite what someone did to this dog, he still wanted to make his way toward me and my colleague,” Fernandez said. “Despite what someone had done, he still had hope for humans to be kind toward him.”

After Cooper completes his treatment at Loma Linda Veterinary Hospital, the puppy will be sent to Heaths Haven Animal Rescue in Idaho, which specializes in unique cases.

Its motto is: ‘Special Dogs, Special Needs’, Welsh said in a release.