Dog in Mortal Danger of Starvation, Exposure, and Drowning, Group Warns Officials
For Immediate Release:
January 4, 2013
Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has sent an urgent letter calling for officials from the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office, county road department, and animal shelter to work together and immediately rescue Blade, a dog who has been trapped in a 200-foot culvert, or underground drainage pipe, located along Long Branch Road near Sugarplum Lane since January 1. As PETA explains in its letter, Blade has been screaming in distress from inside the culvert, but his cries are growing weaker, and his family is frantic to retrieve him.
"Every minute that Blade spends trapped in the pipe is terrifying—and he may not have much time left," says PETA Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations Daphna Nachminovitch. "PETA is standing by and will do anything in our power to help Lumpkin County officials safely return Blade to his family."
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
PETA's letter to Lumpkin County officials follows.
January 4, 2013
To: Stan Kelley, Lumpkin County Manager
Sheriff Stacy Jarrard, Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office
Ben Chitwood, Lumpkin County Road Superintendent
Eddy Harris, Manager, Lumpkin County Animal Shelter
From: Kristin Simon, Senior Cruelty Caseworker, PETA
Re: Rescue needed for dog trapped in culvert
Your urgent attention is requested.
PETA is an international animal rights organization with more than 3 million members and supporters globally, including thousands residing in Georgia. On January 2, our headquarters was contacted by the Sears family of Dahlonega regarding their coonhound, Blade. According to Hunter, the Sears' distraught 16-year-old son, Blade was last seen running through a briar patch near a relative's home on January 1, and when the family tried to recover the dog, they were horrified to hear him screaming in distress from inside a 200-foot culvert located along Long Branch Road. We understand that officials from the county road department as well as the Sheriff's Office have visited the scene but have not yet retrieved the dog and that the family's efforts to rescue Blade have been unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Blade's tracking collar continues to transmit a signal from inside the culvert, but the dog's cries are growing weaker.
We write today to respectfully implore Lumpkin County offices to work together in order to rescue this animal before he dies of starvation, exposure, or drowning. Please know that PETA stands ready to assist in any way possible. May we hear from you soon regarding this urgent matter?
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Kristin Simon
Senior Cruelty Caseworker
Cruelty Investigations Department