Stray dog corralled in Brownsville
BROWNSVILLE – A stray dog got caught in the middle of a contract battle in Brownsville, spent three days in the Spring Street ramp infield area before she was finally caught. The stray, a medium black and brown female that is probably a Chow mix, was first seen in the area Friday. She would only put weight on three legs, favoring her right hind paw, but no one could get close enough to her to catch her, said Brownsville Police Chief Gerald Elliott.
“Rev. Stan Burdock called this morning and said he took water over to her. The chief took food and water to her and (Lt. Tom) Nagg fed her last night,” said Mayor Norma Ryan. “People were getting food for her up at Sheehan’s.”
Wednesday afternoon, Elliott, police intern Neill Snaith and two area residents, Andy VanDivner and his son Brad of Fredericktown, headed for the area near the Lane-Bane Bridge and surrounded the dog.
“We rounded her up like cattle. We eventually had to lasso her,” Elliott said.
The dog was apparently afraid to go near the road, which is why she stayed in the infield area of the ramp for so long.
A volunteer from the Friends of Animals in Uniontown tried unsuccessfully to catch the dog over the weekend. Friends of Animals is a no-kill shelter on Old Connellsville Street, but it is not an animal control agency and doesn’t normally offer to pick up strays.
“This is an exception to the rule. I’m only here because I feel sorry for the dog,” said Flo Fronczek of the Friends of Animals.
The borough had contracted with the Fayette County SPCA for animal control services before the shelter closed down earlier this summer. The shelter is reorganizing and reopening, but there is no service contract with the borough. Ryan said Councilman Tom Bush is researching control agencies for a future contract, but since the borough has no deal with any agency, officials couldn’t get a humane dog trap from either the SPCA or Noah’s Ark, a new no-kill shelter and enforcement agency.
Fronczek said the dog is underweight, needs to be groomed and apparently had pups recently, but doesn’t appear to have any major medical problems. A splint and some rest are most likely all the dog needs for her paw to heal.
“I’m going to take her to Dr. Curtis Gary’s office. She’s had pups, she’s skinny and she probably has worms,” Fronczek said. “I think she’s adoptable, though.”
The dog, although obviously frightened, was alert and friendly, allowing people at the borough building to pet her and riding in a car without any problem.
Fronczek said anyone interested in helping to pay for the dog’s medical expenses should send donations to the Friends of Animals, P.O. Box 1282, Uniontown, 15401. Anyone with information about the dog can call the shelter at 724-434-1422.