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Sugar Cookie

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A 13-week-old Dalmatian had progressed enough Thursday morning that officials were anticipating her undergoing surgery Friday after authorities say the puppy received "devastating injuries" at the hands of a Hagerstown man earlier this week, according to court records and the Humane Society of Washington County.

"We want to thank the community for their outpouring of support for the innocent puppy who was severely injured Tuesday night. Her health is continuing to be closely monitored," humane society Executive Director Colin Berry wrote in an email Thursday morning.
The puppy was in stable condition Thursday morning, but remained in intensive care at a local animal hospital. She is not out of the woods yet, Berry said in a phone interview Thursday morning.


"After consulting with multiple orthopedic specialists, we have scheduled surgery to repair her leg fractures. We anticipate a lengthy recovery but will post updates on the shelter’s Facebook page. HSWC’s Field Services team is also working hard on her case. We assure you that seeking justice is our top priority and will keep you posted as the case progresses," Berry wrote.
Crystal Mowery, field services director for the humane society, had said Wednesday that officials were still determining if it was in the puppy's "best medical interest" to move forward with surgery on two broken legs or whether she should be euthanized. In addition to head trauma, a front and back leg were broken, she said.


The head injuries and the fact that she went into cardiac arrest shortly after arriving at a Hagerstown veterinarian's office were among the factors in determining whether to move forward with the surgery to try to save the puppy's damaged legs, Berry said during the phone interview. Humane society officials also were seeking medical advice from specialists. A traveling surgeon is coming to the city and is anticipated to perform what could be a lengthy surgery on Friday.
Michael W. Snyder, 24, a now former resident of Hagerstown, was charged Tuesday with aggravated animal cruelty — a felony punishable by up to three years in prison — and animal cruelty, a misdemeanor, according to Washington County District Court records.

Snyder was originally held without bond at the Washington County Detention Center. During a bond review hearing Wednesday afternoon, visiting Judge W. Timothy Finan ordered Snyder released on recognizance with conditions. Those conditions include staying at his mother's home south of Frederick, Md., and not being around any animals until the trial.
Dogs that stay, at least periodically at his mother's home, are to be kept at another family member's home while Snyder is staying with his mother, according to officials and a woman in the court gallery who addressed the judge.
According to court records, a woman called the animal hospital because her dog was breathing, but unresponsive to stimuli. The woman and her boyfriend, Snyder, brought the puppy to the animal hospital at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, court records state.

Hospital staff saw the puppy was unresponsive and immediately took it for emergency treatment.

While diagnostic X-rays were being performed, the puppy went into cardiac arrest, court records state. CPR was performed and the puppy was resuscitated.

A veterinarian at the animal hospital observed the puppy was suffering from severe head trauma and two broken legs (one humor and one femur), court records state. The veterinarian advised authorities the injuries were "consistent with damage caused by blunt force trauma," court records state.

Another veterinarian, animal hospital owner and head veterinarian Dr. Shawn Wilson, advised Burgan that the puppy's injuries were consistent with injuries Wilson has seen with dogs struck by vehicles, court records state. Wilson told Burgan that extreme force would be needed to cause such "devastating injuries."

There was concern the puppy would not survive through Tuesday night, court records state.

Mowery said Wednesday afternoon that the puppy responded to stimuli Tuesday night and had started wagging its tail a little.

According to court records, Snyder's girlfriend told Burgan she got a call from Snyder around 11 a.m. saying their dog was limping after coming inside their Hagerstown home from playing in the yard. When she got home from work around 5:30 p.m., she tried to rouse the puppy and the Dalmatian was unresponsive, so she contacted the animal hospital.

Mowery said Thursday morning that the girlfriend is not being charged.

The girlfriend told the officer that Snyder admitted on the way to the hospital to striking the puppy pretty hard, court records state.

Snyder told Burgan the puppy defecated near his son's play area around 11 a.m., court records state. Snyder "began to discipline the puppy by pushing her nose into the feces and struck her on the rear while doing so. Snyder admitted that he struck the puppy very hard and probably struck the dog too hard," court records state. Snyder also told the officer he wasn't trying to be malicious by hitting the dog, only trying to discipline it.

During Wednesday's bond hearing, Assistant State's Attorney Michelle Flores said the puppy was left for five hours without treatment.

Flores said Snyder was on probation for driving under the influence and was watching the couple's young child and the puppy on Tuesday.

If Snyder can do such injuries to the puppy, then he's a danger to the child as well, Flores argued in requesting that Snyder continue to be held without bond.

Assistant Public Defender Regine Lotlikar told Finan that it's a "stretch" for Flores to say the child — or the woman — is in danger.

The couple's child is younger than 2 years old, and Snyder has lived with his partner for four years, Lotlikar said.

The girlfriend told the deputy that Snyder was not abusing her, according to court records.

Is it really a stretch that this piece of shit would hit the child if they took their pamper off and had an accident on the floor.

The puppy better not be returned to the girlfriend whether she keeps this piece of shit around or not.

 
The Humane Society of Washington County's executive director said Monday morning she is hoping to get a second surgery scheduled this week for an abused Dalmatian puppy whose injuries are so severe a leg needs to be amputated.
Bijou, who is about 14 weeks old, had a more than five-hourlong surgery Friday on one of two broken legs, Executive Director Colin Berry said. Bijou is the name its previous owners had for the puppy before she was surrendered to the humane society last week.
Orthopedic radiographs taken before Friday's surgery revealed that repairing the damage to the broken front leg was no longer feasible given the "complexity of the fractures in that leg and the chronic pain typically associated with this caliber of injury," according to a post on the nonprofit's Facebook page.


"It just goes to show you what blunt-force trauma can actually do," Berry said.
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Poor Bijou! :bigtears:

Although I'm inclined to rename her Ruby Roo... Sounds like Bijou, without the horrible association. :shame:
or Jewel :) which is what she is really and yea the english word for bijou.... i sure hope the head injuries won't cause her to have seizures :( and yea those eyes look traumatized but her pose and total bearing shows she is a fighter and won't give up and hopefully adjust as as tri-ped... and that she will find a very loving , caring furever home ...
 
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Is it really a stretch that this piece of shit would hit the child if they took their pamper off and had an accident on the floor.

The puppy better not be returned to the girlfriend whether she keeps this piece of shit around or not.
It is NOT a stretch to consider this wretch would hurt a child. There are extensive studies linking animal abuse and cruelty with child abuse and cruelty. The child is in danger!
 
December 14, 2023

The update everyone's been waiting for...
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BIJOU HAS BEEN ADOPTED!!
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Bijou has been officially adopted by her foster who, not surprisingly, couldn't bear the thought of saying goodbye. During the months spent recovering in their home, Bijou fully integrated herself into the family. Her adopter says, "Bijou is a delightful, rambunctious girl who tries SO hard despite her handicaps!" It's true -- even with just 3 legs, Bijou enjoys doing everything -- including zoomies -- with her canine siblings who've accepted her as one of their own. Bijou is resilient and loves her new life as a country girl in rural Washington County, MD.
Bijou's treatment and extensive recovery was only possible because of your compassion and outpouring of support for her -- thank you. Bijou fought her way back to life, and you made sure she never fought alone.
Please join us in congratulating Bijou and her family on reaching this milestone and making it official!
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A Frederick, Md., man received a suspended jail sentence Tuesday after paying over $7,000 toward past and future veterinary bills for a Dalmatian who had to have a leg amputated after it was abused about a year ago.
The case revolves around Bijou, a Dalmatian who suffered head injuries and two broken legs in January last year when she was 13 weeks old.

Bijou has since had multiple surgeries. She has a new home in Washington County with someone with veterinary experience.
During the sentencing hearing Tuesday afternoon in Washington County District Court, Judge Mark D. Thomas told Michael W. Snyder, 25, that he wouldn't feel he was overdoing it if he sent the former Hagerstown man to jail for 90 days.

Some people would desire retribution, but the long-term goal is to not have the defendant re-offend and there are often underlying problems, Thomas said. When those problems are appropriately addressed, it can reduce the likelihood of the person re-offending, the judge said.
Thomas, near the start of the hearing, asked Snyder if he were tested for drugs and alcohol right then if he would be clean.

Snyder said, "For drugs, yes."
When the judge asked Snyder if he was sober when the incident happened, Snyder said he had been. But he admitted to having a drinking problem in the past. Snyder also told Thomas that he had stayed in a hospital for about two weeks for his bipolar issues, shortly after the incident with the dog.


Snyder said he has been on medication for his bipolar issues since, been to therapy and has completed classes, a MADD program and been to Alcoholics Anonymous many times related to his drinking problem.
Thomas suspended a 90-day sentence for the misdemeanor animal cruelty charge Snyder pleaded guilty to in August. The sentencing was delayed to allow Snyder to come up with money for restitution.
Snyder will be on supervised probation for three years. Conditions include not possessing or having unsupervised contact with any animals.

What happened to Bijou?​

A humane society field services officer and a Washington County Sheriff's Office deputy responded to Mountain View Animal Emergency on Crayton Boulevard on Jan. 3, 2023, for a suspected animal abuse case involving a 13-week-old puppy. The puppy had head injuries and two broken legs. She went into cardiac arrest while diagnostic X-rays were performed and was resuscitated, according to court records.
According to court records, Snyder's girlfriend told the field services officer she got a call from Snyder around 11 a.m. saying their dog was limping after coming into their Hagerstown home from playing in the yard. When she got home late that afternoon, she found the puppy unresponsive and contacted the animal hospital.


The girlfriend is not being charged, a humane society official has said.
Snyder told the field services officer the puppy defecated near his son's play area around 11 a.m., court records state. Snyder "began to discipline the puppy by pushing her nose into the feces and struck her on the rear while doing so. Snyder admitted that he struck the puppy very hard and probably struck the dog too hard," court records state. Snyder also told the officer he wasn't trying to be malicious by hitting the dog, only trying to discipline it.
The girlfriend surrendered the puppy to the humane society.
Colin Berry, the humane society's executive director, wrote in an email Tuesday that, "Bijou is doing great!"

Bijou was adopted by the person who had fostered her after her injuries, Berry wrote. That person is "very familiar" with Bijou's specific medical needs.

Bijou "lives on a farm and is living her best life with 4-legged siblings," Berry wrote.
 

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