Dog hit by car, allegedly beaten by owner needs
public’s help in surgery costs
06:00 AM CDT on Thursday, July 19, 2007
Watch News 4 coverage: Owner accused
(KMOV/AP) - Last week News 4 reported on a man charged for allegedly pummeling his dog with a board to put it out
of its misery after it was injured by a hit-and-run driver.
Watch News 4 coverage
Now, a local animal hospital is asking the public to help the k-9 with medical costs.
Her name is Lela, and this yellow lab has been through a lot more than any person could even imagine.
She is now unable to walk and in need of surgery and a home, the staff at Horseshoe Lake Animal Hospital
are trying to help.
"She is just one of the sweetest dogs we've had, she's not giving us any trouble," staff member, Tina
Welmon says.
Lela's troubles started earlier this month when she was hit by a car. Granite City Police say her owner,
Darren Crider then used a 2 x 4 to hit the dog in an effort to euthanize it. Crider now faces a misdemeanor
charge of cruelty to animals.
Lela had been returned to her owner, but apparently faced with devastating injuries including a broken
pelvis, she was given up and is now at the animal hospital.
"The biggest obstacle is the money, the girls here we're all going to chip in and foster her and care for her
until she is rehabilitated and can go to a new home. But the money is the big obstacle because we're
looking at around $2,000," Welmon says.
It is a steep sum, but one the staff here believes it is worth saving the dog who is less than a year old, and
was apparently left for dead in the road, something the Humane Society says should never happen.
"If it's their animal and they can't afford to pay the vet bill to have the animal fixed by surgery or whatever,
they don't have the money, take it to a vet and have the animal humanely euthanized, Most veterinary
hospitals will do that free of charge," staff member, Bob Golding says.
Donations for Lela:
Animal Rescue And Relief Foundation of Southern Illinois
P.O Box 397
Caseyville, IL 62232
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GRANITE CITY, Ill. (AP) -- A Metro East man is in jail as authorities weigh whether he should be charged for
allegedly pummeling his dog with a board to put it out of its misery after it was injured by a hit-and-run driver.
Granite City Police Chief Rich Miller says the man had been drinking before he used a two-by-four piece of
wood to hit the dog on Monday.
Miller says the yellow Labrador retriever was treated by a veterinarian and will recover from leg injuries
caused by the car and head injuries sustained in the beating.
Police will meet with Madison County prosecutors in Edwardsville to determine if the man should be
charged.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
*****Previous story******
(KMOV) -- A local man could face animal abuse charges.
What is even more surprising is what happened to the dog after police arrived.
The incident happened on Emzee Avenue in Granite City, IL where an injured dog was attacked by his
owner.
Granite City police say the dog, which is now okay, was first hit by a passing car along the street.
The owner, who police say appeared intoxicated, apparently started fearing the worst and wanted to
euthanize the dog.
Police say the dog has marks on his head from the beating and they have the bloody 2x4 the owner used on
the dog.
Even more bizarre is what happened later, when Granite City's animal control took the dog and returned it
to its home, while police held its owner in the city's jail.
News 4 was unable to find the person now caring for the dog, but police say it's possible the same man who
tried to kill the dog could be back home with the dog this week.
The unidentified dog owner is still in jail.
Granite City police say he could face a felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals.