HOLLYWOOD, FLA. (WSVN) - Police are searching for the person or people responsible for severely injuring a dog and leaving him trapped inside a suitcase in Hollywood.
Hollywood Police officers responded to an abandoned building at 1945 Lee St., Tuesday, just after 1 a.m. In an alley behind the structure they found a blue suitcase with a paw sticking out.
Officers then heard a dog’s howl come from the piece of luggage. They opened it to find a male bully-breed terrier mix with severe lacerations to the top of his head and body.
“It’s an awful thing,” said Dr. Nicole Patterson, a vet who is treating Ollie. “You think it’s disgusting that people are capable of doing such terrible things to animals, an innocent creature.
The canine, since named Ollie by a rescue group, was taken to VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital, where Patterson advised that the dog was stabbed multiple times and beaten. “He has pretty deep wounds on his chest and also on his head,” she said.
Ollie underwent surgery on Tuesday afternoon to close up the wounds on his head. Vets said he will need a second one for his chest, while a third surgery will take place Wednesday.
Patterson said the injured dog faces a long road to recovery. “He did have some trauma to his lungs, so we’re keeping a close eye on his breathing,” she said. “We’re not sure what exactly happened, but the wounds look pretty clean and like somebody was trying to hurt him.”
Police said they located Ollie because a passer-by spotted the suitcase.
Neighbors said they are horrified. “How can you [do that to] an animal?” said one area resident.
One young girl told 7News said she saw a man with a similar suitcase in the neighborhood. “He was walking down the street on 19th Avenue, and I’m like, ‘That’s creepy,'” she said.
Meanwhile, Ollie continues his fight to survive but seems to sense, as dogs often do, that he’s in safe hands. “He’s happy. He’s still wagging his tail despite having all these terrible wounds,” said Patterson. “It breaks your heart, but I’m happy that we’re here to help him and hopefully get him feeling better.”
Grateful Paws Dog and Cat Rescue is currently looking for a foster home for Ollie. For more information, call 954-579-3753, email info@gratefulpaws.org or go to www.gratefulpaws.org.
If you would like to make a donation, go to www.gratefulpaws.org/donate or go to a GoFundMe page set up for Ollie.
If you have any information that could help investigators, call Hollywood Police at 954-967-4411 or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $3,000 reward.
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