JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two donors have added to the Jacksonville Humane Society's reward for the arrest and conviction of whoever brutally slashed a dog several times with a sharp object.
After the Humane Society announced a $500 reward Thursday afternoon, an anonymous donor matched it and another person added $50 toward the reward.
The group is also starting a fund to help pay for the medical care of the dog, who the staff has named Bo.
On Friday, residents of a development in Northwest Jacksonville found the dog covered in blood with life-threatening injuries across his body. They brought him to the Humane Society's Community Animal Hospital, where veterinarians operated to close the wounds.
"There's no question he would have died had they not intervened and gotten him the care he needed," said Denise Deisler, JHS executive director.
One of the gashes was 4 inches long.
"Bo was very lucky that he didn't have any neurological damage because he was cut all the way down to the spinal column," said Dr. Christian Broadhurst, JHS' medical director. "Bo lost a lot of blood from at least 10 separate, intentional cuts, but he is a trooper and pulled through surgery with flying colors."
The city of Jacksonville's Animal Care and Protective Services sent a cruelty investigator to examine the dog and investigate the case, but the attacker has not been identified.
"We hope offering a reward will help find the person who brutally attacked poor Bo," Deisler said. "Bo is an incredibly sweet dog; it's difficult to understand such a vicious act on one so innocent. We are starting a fund to help cover the costs of Bo's care, which will continue to rise as he heals."
"It's sad we should be frightened that there are people out there walking the streets that would be so cruel and so brutal to a precious animal so helpless and innocent that's not able to defend himself," Deisler added. "That's the kind of people we should be worried about. We don't want them around our kids, our neighbors or our animals."
Bo already has a waiting list of folks who want to adopt him, so Deisler said he has a much better road ahead.
"He'll live a happy, healthy life, which is exactly what he deserves, and I hope the people that hurt him get exactly what they deserve as well."
Anyone with information about Bo's attack is asked to call Animal Care and Protective services at 904-630-CITY. To donate to Bo's Fund, visit jaxhumane.org or call 904-725-8766.