T'ville-Thomas Co. Humane Society rescues Sunset | News

THOMASVILLE, GA- A south Georgia animal shelter is offering a reward in an animal cruelty case.

A two-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier is recovering in Thomasville from a severe neck wound resulting from suspected abuse.

This is two-year old Sunset.

Just two weeks ago Sunset was thrown out of a car with a nylon rope deeply embedded in his neck. "Despite that, in this case, he's a still very friendly loving boy and has a very good temperament and doesn't seem to want to harm anybody," said Executive Director Ed Williams.

Sunset was immediately taken from the Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society to Clanton-Malphus-Hodges for surgery.

"It's actually more common than you think and like with this scenario and we see it happen, neglect rolls over into cruelty there by not really watching how the dogs and animals are restrained," said Veterinarian Beckey Malphus.

Humane Society Director Ed Williams says tethering a dog not only affects them physically, but psychologically as well.  "In that animals, dogs especially are just loving beings that want to be with their people and other animals and being relegated to the corner of the yard, tied to a post or a tree is no life for them."

Williams says donations made on behalf on Sunset could also help the other animals in the shelter. "Any funds that we collect, in addition to what's needed for his treatment, we're going to set aside in a heartworm fund so we can treat otherwise adoptable heartworm positive animals that we get."

Officials say they don't currently have any suspects, but the shelter is still offering a reward.

"We had actually posted a reward, a $500 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible for this. This is certainly animal cruelty and/or neglect," said Williams.

But Williams says this dog's luck is soon to change.

He says the man who discovered Sunset has also agreed to adopt him. 

Suspected animal cruelty or neglect in Thomas County can be reported to animal control at 229-228-0613.

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