Community News
Zorro: A Second Chance
By Sue Steiner
Jun 21, 2006, 15:42

This is Zorro. He has a new name and thanks to some caring people, a chance at a better life.

Zorro's story came to light because of Amy Ard. Ms. Ard is a mail carrier for the Post Office.  Henry Lane is on that route and at one house in particular there were several dogs that needed help. She knew she couldn't take the dogs even if the owner was willing to hand them over to her, she already has 15 dogs and several of those were rescues. So, she carried baggies of dog food in her vehicle and would feed them. For the past year she has watched their condition. In May she knew they needed more help then she could give and she called the Decatur County Sheriff's Office on May 17th.

Deputy Griffin, Corporal Singleton and Lieutenant Ashley responded to the house on Henry Lane. What they found was not a pretty sight. There were approximately 20 dogs on the property. Most were chained, including puppies, with large logging chains. The puppies and one of the adult dogs appeared to be extremely malnourished. It got worse. There was one dead puppy and two others that were in a pen with a dead chicken. There were food pans out but there was no food or water for the dogs. All appeared to be pit bulls.

The deputies went to a neighbor’s house to obtain the names of the occupants of the house and also took photographs of the scene to possibly obtain warrants for animal cruelty.

The next day, May 18, Lt. Ashley went back to the residence to follow up and met with the resident. There were 4 dogs there, two that were loose and two on chains. She was asked if she lived there and if the animals were her's. She told Lt. Ashley that they were hers and a friend's and that they would be moving because they had been evicted.

She also stated that all the dogs had all been stolen except for the two on chains. She told Lt. Ashley that the animals were taken sometime after she fed them in the morning. She also told him that she heard that the deputies had been at the residence the day before.

Lt. Ashley saw that there were pans of food out. He also observed that there were several chains attached to collars lying on the ground and several appeared to have been cut. She stated to him that they would never find the dogs and didn't want the Sheriff's Office to pursue an investigation into the theft.

When Lt. Ashley asked the value of the animals she stated that they were worth several thousand dollars. She also stated to him that she was looking for good homes for the remaining animals since she had been evicted. Ms. Ard said that the dog’s conditions did seem to be stable for a while until the second week of June.

On June 19th,  Amy Ard contacted the Sheriff's Office again. While delivering mail on Henry Lane she saw that the white and brown bulldog was still chained and he was in really poor condition. By now there was a bond between Ms. Ard and the bulldog and when the dog saw her vehicle he would start to wag his tail in welcome.

Lt. Ashley went to the address and found the dog, chained without food or water. Lt. Ashley got the dog some water and made arrangements for and Animal Control Officer from the Decatur County Prison to pick up the dog and a puppy.  The both of the dogs were then taken to the Decatur County Humane Society for safe keeping.

Lt. Ashley contacted the original owner who had now moved to Climax. She told him that she had given to dogs to the brother of a man that also lives on Henry Lane. After the dogs were taken, Lt. Ashley asked the man if his brother now owned the dogs. This man's answer was that his brother didn't live anywhere near Henry Lane, didn't drive and wouldn't have taken an animal from her.

So now Zorro is at a new home and looking for a permanent one. One that will provide him with food, water, shelter and love. All the things he was missing. Zorro has a chance thanks to the postal worker who cared enough to call and the Sheriff's Deputies who followed up.

Zorro would not have lasted much longer in the condition he was in, maybe one or two days. He was covered in fleas when he arrived at the shelter so he was given a bath. He also was given food with chicken broth to help nourish him back to health. And most importantly, he will be given love until someone who is looking for a special dog to add to their family will come and take him home.

If you are thinking about adding a pet to your family please consider adopting one from the Decatur County Humane Society. If it isn't Zorro you're looking for there are many cats and dogs that are willing to give unconditional love.

There still isn't a County Animal Ordinance in place though one was proposed in February. Zorro would like to think that maybe we could help other animals out there and there are many.