Halfmoon puppy ‘lucky’ to survive burns

PHOTOGRAPHER: Patrick Dodson

Roxy, a pitbull that police say was burned and two people are now in custody, is seen at Saratoga County Animal Shelter in Ballston Spa on Friday, February 20, 2015.

Roxy bounded into the visiting room at the Saratoga County Animal Shelter with a burst of energy one wouldn’t expect from a pit bull suffering with horrific burns.

The resilient, 9-month-old pup sat down and vigorously wagged her tail as Debbie Oligny produced a treat. Were it not for the clearly visible injuries to her right ear, face and neck, Roxy would seem like any other ordinary, well-mannered dog, bounding with life and craving attention.

“The prognosis is good,” said Oligny, the shelter’s supervisor. “She’s going to be OK.”

That’s somewhat amazing considering the ordeal Roxy suffered through recently. Last week, the dog was doused with isopropyl alcohol and set on fire, and her owner didn’t seek veterinary treatment until two days later, police say.

The charcoal gray fur surrounding her right eye was burned away, leaving second-degree burns and open sores. The underside of her ear was badly scorched, causing third-degree burns that quickly became infected and could now force amputation of the appendage.

“Part of her ear already has necrosis,” Oligny said, pointing to the blackened edges of Roxy’s ear.

Roxy is now on medication to manage her pain. Even if her ear can be saved, it sustained nerve damage.

But all things considered, Roxy is fortunate. The burns to her face could have easily taken one of her blue eyes; the infection, if left untreated, could have taken her life.

“She’s lucky,” Oligny said. “She’s very lucky.”

State police believe Scott M. Cusson, 19, flicked a match at Roxy while he was staying at a friend’s home in Halfmoon on Feb. 9. Investigators believe 19-year-old Edward M. Turner Jr. — Cusson’s friend and Roxy’s owner — then waited two days before seeking medical attention for his gravely injured dog.

When Turner brought the injured pit bull to a clinic in Clifton Park last week, the veterinarian immediately reported the injury to police. On Wednesday, Cusson was arrested on a felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals, while Turner was charged with a misdemeanor count of failing to provide sustenance.

A Halfmoon town judge sent Cusson to the Saratoga County jail, where he was released after posting $2,500 bail early Friday. He is due back in court Tuesday.

Turner was issued a ticket to appear in Halfmoon Town Court for arraignment March 5.

Roxy was seized from Turner and ordered into the care of the shelter until the case is resolved. If the abuse is proven, there’s a good chance Roxy will be removed from Turner’s care for good.

“It’s up to the court now,” Oligny said.

Still unclear is what prompted Cusson to allegedly harm the dog or why Turner reportedly didn’t seek help immediately. Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen said she’s now reviewing the files to determine how to proceed.

“We’re aware of the case, and we’ll be taking appropriate action going forward,” she said Friday.

Roxy doesn’t show any signs of other abuse. She appears well-fed and groomed, lacking any other identifiable injuries to suggest she was regularly mistreated.

She also has a pleasant demeanor and gleefully greeted the day-long media procession to the shelter that followed word of her abuse. Roxy’s story has also prompted an outpouring of support from people offering her a new home.

“There’s already a long list of people asking to adopt her,” Oligny said, “but we’ll just have to wait.”

The case has also caught the attention of Assemblyman James Tedisco, the author of Buster’s Law, the state law under which Cusson is now charged. In wake of the abuse, he’s proposing a bill that would create a state registry of animal abusers, requiring those convicted of such abuse to undergo psychiatric evaluation and be prohibited from ever owning an animal again.

“Anyone who is so twisted as to light a dog on fire should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Tedisco, R-Glenville, said in a statement. “This is as much about protecting people as it is about protecting our pets, because animal cruelty is a bridge crime and anyone who would commit a crime as dastardly as harming a defenseless animal could go on to harm our human loved ones.”