Conroe animal shelter investigates after 3-month-old puppy bites off own leg – Houston Public Media

Conroe Mayor Duke Coon ordered police to investigate allegations that the city’s animal shelter failed to provide necessary veterinary care to a three-month-old puppy who had bitten off his own leg.

Casey was dropped off at the shelter on July 7 with a severely mutilated front leg, just hours before the eye of Hurricane Beryl swept through the city. However, during his stay at the shelter, staff did not provide Casey with any medical care or give him an e-collar to prevent him from chewing on the injury.

“We have to investigate this and what happened,” Coon said Thursday. “We have an obligation to do so.”

At the shelter, Casey was given only over-the-counter medication for pain before being taken to a Navasota animal hospital. Information about Casey and other allegations against the shelter were the subject of a memo sent to council members by former police chief Jeff Christy.

Sharon Hopkins, the owner of Care Corporation – a company hired by the police to oversee the shelter – said there were failings in the way Casey was treated, according to the Houston Chronicle, which first reported on Casey.

Hopkins could not be reached for comment. Christy and the police department did not respond to phone calls and emails seeking comment.

In an interview with Houston Public Media, Coon acknowledged the disruptions Beryl caused while Casey was held at the home, such as persistent power outages, but said there were no excuses. He said he hoped an investigation would lead to better communication with Care Corporation and a better understanding of its policies and procedures.

“This dog will find a fantastic home,” Coon said.

“We will put in place protocols with Care Corporation in the future to ensure that something like this never happens again,” he said.

A full report of the investigation will be presented at a city council meeting in the coming weeks.

Joy Southard, director of the charity Healing Species Texas, is caring for Casey as his leg heals. While Casey is the focus of the police investigation, Southard said this is not the first time the City Council has fielded complaints about the city’s animal shelter.

“Many of us feel that we should be more open to rescue groups and the community that wants to help,” she said.

The rest of his leg was amputated after Casey lost a lot of blood from the injury and there were fears of infection spreading, she said.

After completing his training, the organization will put him up for adoption.