Maybe you all have been following this story (copied here from the LA Times):
A puppy that was savagely beaten and left for dead by a man at the U.S.-Mexico border last week is recovering after being rescued by Border Patrol agents.
The brutal attack on the female shepherd mix puppy, estimated to be about 3 months old, was captured by Border Patrol surveillance cameras and shows the man hitting, choking and suffocating the animal before fleeing back to Mexico, said Border Patrol Agent Mark Endicott.
The video shows the man first tossing the puppy into the U.S. from Mexico over the fence about a half mile east of the San Ysidro Port of Entry. He then jumps over the barrier and grabs the dog and begins to punch it in the head several times with a closed fist. He then picks up the struggling, tiny animal and slams it against the fence.
A Border Patrol agent was dispatched to check on the dog after the man left its lifeless body lying on the ground and jumped back over the fence. The agent found the dog was still alive and gave it some food and water, Endicott said.
It was then taken to the county Department of Animal Services shelter in Bonita, Endicott said.
The puppy, which has not been named, has some trauma to its back legs but is expected to recover, said John Carlson, deputy director with the county’s Animal Services. He said X-rays will determine to what extent the legs are damaged. It did not appear to have suffered significant internal injuries but will undergo further tests.
Carlson said he has seen animals that have been injured by people but has never seen the abuse in progress as it was captured on the tape.
He said the physical trauma the dog suffered was terrible but “sometimes dogs can be pretty resilient.”
The pup will continue to be treated at the shelter until it is fully recovered, Carlson said. It will then be placed for adoption to an appropriate home to owners who will be responsible for its medical follow-up.
There is no timetable as to when that will be, but it could be as soon as a couple of weeks, he said.
Carlson said he would like nothing better than to see the man responsible for the brutality brought to justice.
“If Border Patrol can detain this guy we’ll take him into custody for felony animal abuse,” he said.
Endicott said it may be possible to identify the man on the tape.
In the meantime, workers at the shelter taking care of the puppy say it seems to be in good spirits.
“It’s a real sweetheart,” Carlson said.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:39 am
That was so cute. Thanks for the 411 !!!
August 6th, 2008 at 10:04 am
OMG!!!!! I try to follow these things so I can sign petitions or call people (as in the Micheal Vic case). Please keep us updated on Spirits journey. L.B.
August 6th, 2008 at 10:54 am
It is so heart wretching to hear of such brutality to an innocent animal.
I want to thank Rachel Ray for her love and support of animals!
August 6th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I would love to get my hands on that guy!
What is wrong with people? I think we should
be looking for the “PODS”. One day I am going
to wind up in jail over just this issue.
August 6th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Thank God for caring Border Patrol. Pray “Spirit”will find a good home soon; and pray that the culprit is caught, he does not deserve mercy!
August 6th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Ok, delete “does not deserve mercy”‘, but should not go unpunished for his act! I have been involved with animals all my life and could never tolerate mistreatment of any animal. They have been entrusted to us to be taken care of and loved - not abused.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Maybe the person that did this should undergo the same treatment as the dog went thru
August 8th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Please take a look at our new website to help animals that need it…Any imput would be greatly appreciated
August 8th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Thank you for your generous gift to help this animal. I am always surprised at the violent acts people direct towards animals - when they want nothing but our love! I hope they are able to find the person responsible and know that the person needs help understanding how wrong his act of abuse was towards the animal. Imagine what he might do to people!
August 8th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Rachael,
Thank you so much for your generousity and helping animals who really need it.
All three of my dogs are rescues and have had traumatic pasts, but now have a loving home because of wonderful charities like yours.
My dogs are now eating your brand of dog food and treats and they think it is YUM-O!
Thank you for all you do for the animals!
August 8th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
It hurts me to my core to hear this story and I fight back tears. I can’t believe that people that inhabit this planet have the ability to be so cruel to the animals. Once we destroy the animals, we destroy ourselves. I can only hope that there is some justice in the big scheme of things. In the meantime I still can hold some hope that people who care about animals, like Rachel Ray, those who work at animal shelters and thousands of others, make a difference in the lives of animals. Thank you to the good man who aided this little dog. I myself have adopted a rescued dog and she brings so much love to my family.
August 9th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Thanks for making public the horrible abuse against animals. We have adopted 3 dogs from our local pound. One of them is a pit that looks just like Izzy (except she has green eyes) and appears to have the same temperment, her name is Candy because she is sooooo sweet. We got another pit from the pound he is a Staffordshire Terrier and is also very sweet, his name is Elwood. Then there is Vic, we really don’t know what he is but he is the sweetest of them all. Thanks again.
August 10th, 2008 at 6:06 am
hello rachael.ı love you rachael.
August 11th, 2008 at 11:40 am
i read about poor SPIRIT and am glad that she is safe now. I, like many others, do what I can to help amimals that god entrusted to us as gardians of this planet. I have four rescue dogs myself, and have on ever had rescued pets from birds to donkeys. To all those who left a comment on this site, keep doing what your doing for those animals you care for, you know its the right thing to do because they make us happy and never judge you.
jenny, Bahain
August 11th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Where can I buy Rachel’s dog food?
Please let me know.
THANK YOU!
August 11th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
When I read about this, it broke my heart. I watch Animal Channel every day and there are stories very much like this one that I shed tears over. I wish that I could take in all of the abandonded and abused animals myself and give all of them a warm and safe home to live in. This is so wrong that this man did to this puppy. I pray that they get him and give him the punishment at the full extent of the law that he deserves. When I see/read things like this, I want to take the abuser and do the same thing to them, so they can see what it is like to experience this cruelity. Thank you for bringing this out to the public, to let everyone know that there are evil people out there. This should also send a message to EVERY pet owner that they should take very good care of their pets and let them know that they are loved and cared for and wanted.
If there is anyway possible, could you please let us know on your show how Spirit is doing? Initially you mentioned that he wasn’t named, well, I think that “SPIRIT” is a great name for him, as he has shown the spirit to survive and to hang in there. I believe that God sends angels dresses like all of the animal rescue workers, vets. and others that show love and compassion to help these animals to get better and get adopted into happier homes. Thank you for all you do for our special four legged friends.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:00 am
We had a momma cat have her babies underneath our house. Now babies (4 female kitties) are about 2 months old. We have been feeding kittens with milk and cat food every day when they are out in the morning and late evening. We would like to tame them but they scatter everytime we come outside. Any suggestions as we would like to keep them. We have them named already but cannot get close to them. However we CAN pet the mama!
August 12th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I also have a family of kittens and cats that I feed outside, but kittens and puppys should never have milk as a food, I work in a Veterinary Hospital and belive me I have learned a lot, milk will cause stones in kittens and puppys and they are painful, keep up your good work of taking care of the outside babies thye really do appreciate your caring.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
My heart was touched by Spirit’s story. I have 17 animals all were abused and/or negelected or just as bad turned in by people who get a pet with researching the animal. I have 7 dogs all which have a sad story attached but the sadest was my Newfoundland/Great Dane mix who sat in a shelter in Ohio with a death sentence. The shelter’s was do this by shooting the animal in the head. Some great hearted person put out a plea for help and our local Great Dane rescue stepped in and when I heard of his plight adopted him sight unseen. The pay back has been that I have RA and often can not get out of bed in the morning and “Hooch” puts his front paws on the bed and I rap my arms around his neck and he carefully scoots down the bed until I am setting up. I then slide down using him for support (I have an antique repo bed that sides high off the floor). He carefully leans on me to support me until I am walking well on my own. I do not recommend getting a pet w/o researching or meeting the animal but a newfie and GD are so great as pets I knew Hooch was for us.
The count 7 dogs, 2 cats, 2 GPs. 2 Degus and 4 rabbits. God has blessed me with the laarge family that I could never have on my own. I have one human child who is 20 and helps w/ his fur brother and sisters.
May God continue to bless you w/ many more little angels.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
When I read this story, I had to go to the bathroom because it made me cry beyond control. I can not imagine how someone can be so cruel to any animal, especially to a puppy. I will be contributing monthly to support any facility that helps these helpless animals. THANK YOU FOR BEING SO WONDERFUL AND HELPING OUR “4 LEGGED FREINDS”!!!!!!!!!
August 12th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
My daughter and myself have been voluneers at our local shelter for 3 1/2 yrs. We hear some very horrible stories. How humans are so incredibly cruel to innocent animals sickens me. I thank God that Spirit is going to be ok and hope that justice finds that cruel man who so cowardly beat an incredibly innocent puppy. I hope that Spirit finds a beautiful family that will provide all the love and safety that Spirit deserves.
I applaude you Rachel Ray for helping to bring these kinds of horrible stories to the public. The public needs to know what really goes on out there and help to fight to protect all the animals.
August 14th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Thank you, Rachel for all that you do for the helpless and abused animals. I would take them all in if I could. I have a 15 year old Shitzu named Mopsee who is the dearest pet I could have ever hoped for. If anyone ever hurt her, I don’t know what I would do. I do not understand how people can hurt and abuse an innocent animal. What am I saying? These days people are drowning their children in bathtubs and throwing them off bridges. We live in a very sick and sad world. Thank God for people like you!
August 15th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
I would love to get my hands on anyone who abuses a helpless animal or child. If I was in charge, these abusers would be treated the same way they treated the ones they hurt—to the fullest extent. I am normally not a violent person but when it comes to animals and children the MEAN in me comes out.
Thank you for the updates and God Bless you for your love of anything defenseless Rachel.
August 16th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
That was very sad and brutal.
August 17th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Hi Rachael! I love your show. I am glad to see the little dog Spirit is doing ok. I just can’t believe someone would acually hurt their little puppy! Man if I ever got my hands on that guy, I would just do every single thing that he did to that little puppy!
That man should go to jail for doing something so cruel to Spirit and he should stay there for ever! I have a year old cat named Black-Jack. He is the most adorable cat ever!Thankyou Rachael Ray for helping all the animals!!
August 17th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
What a pathetic excuse for a human that man must be, to beat an innocent puppy. I am not normally one to go about name-calling and finger pointing, but seriously, come on. Luckily the universe works in ways we can’t imagine and that man will get his when his time comes…….
Thank goodness for animal lovers!!!!
As my husbands says, “All dogs are angels!”
August 18th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Just another reason why Rachael inspires me..She comes shining through again..If only their were many more human beings like here in this sick world..By the way just give me one minute with that moran, that abused one of god’s creations..Keep up the good work Rachael Ray..God Bless..
August 19th, 2008 at 8:48 am
That wild animal that did that to Spirit. He should have a taste of his own medicine. He should be thrown over a fence and beaten till he can’t stand it anymore and then thrown into jail for the rest of his life. Hope he is caught.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Wow i can’t get over that some on would do that to a poor animal. That just shows that some people should be in jail. I have thee dogs and i could never ever do that to one of them or another animal!I hope that man gets caught and soon! Who know what he could do next!
August 20th, 2008 at 10:46 am
IF PEOPLE DO THIS TO ANIMALS, I BELIEVE THIS IS HOW THEY TREAT PEOPLE AS WELL. I WILL KEEP SPIRIT IN MY PRAYERS AND HOPE HE FINDS A MOST LOVING HOME AND FAMILY TO JOIN.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:20 am
There is a special place in hell for that man!
August 21st, 2008 at 9:20 am
I truely hope and pray they get this soulless, lowlife excuse for a human being!!! If they get him, they should do to him exactly what he did to the puppy!!! Just 10 times worse!!! This little girl will be a blessing to whatever family has the good luck of adopting her!!! I hope and pray the authorities keep tabs of her so that she does have a great future life!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 21st, 2008 at 10:04 am
I believe this man should be treated the same as he did this animal. ie…(first tossing the man into the U.S. from Mexico over the fence about a half mile east of the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Then jump over the barrier and grab the man and begin to punch in the head several times with a closed fist. Pick up the struggling,sleazy man animal and slam against the fence.)I can see the line now starting behind me. He deserves to be left there though..with no assistance, no food, no water, no nothing to die.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:03 am
Thank you for helping poor SPIRIT! Is there anything we can do to help make animal abuse a nationwide crime punishable by substantial jail time (then NEVER being allowed to own/ live in a home with a dog/cat/animal/pet)? Anyone who would do this is truly evil. I do believe that dogs are sent by God as angels; they stay on earth for short time periods and report back to God the good and the evil. This culprit will get his either in this life or another.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:36 am
To Sandilu, great job looking after the mommy cat and her kittens, remember to give them fresh water every day, Bless everyone who have helped or taken in abused or abandoned animals the world needs more people like you, Well done the border patrol guy and of course Rachel for helping little Spirit, i wish him/ her a wonderful future.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
What in the world is wrong with people? I am a member of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) as well as the Human Society of US. It is so upsetting that people would do something so horrible to animals. I have three dogs and can guarantee that if someone abused my dogs, they would pay the consequences. Our society needs to have steeper Animal Abuse Charges. I hope that the Border Patrol catches this person so he can pay the consequences for what he did to an incident animal. Rachel, you have a kind giving heart like myself to help animals. It is really nice to know there are others out there.