Fayette animal shelter asking for help to care for abandoned, neglected animals
Courtesy of Fayette Friends of Animals
Sir Didymus was left tied to the gate of Fayette Friends of Animals one day late last month and he was in rough shape by any measure.
The dog, which is probably less than a year old, had its tail cut off, open wounds to its neck and back, and was well underweight for its age. What happened to the dog will likely never be known, but Luke Szymanski, the Uniontown animal shelter’s director of operations, believes it had all the telltale signs of abuse.
“When the staff came in that day, he was tied to the front gate,” Szymanski said. “The dog was definitely in very bad condition.”
He conceded it was possible Sir Didymus, who is named for a fox terrier that appeared in the 1986 movie “Labyrinth,” had gotten into a fight with another dog, but given his lack of nourishment, “I do believe this was neglect.”
Animals are not often left at the gate of the shelter, Szymanski pointed out, “but it’s not uncommon.”
The brief life of Sir Didymus appears to have been pretty rough until his arrival at Fayette Friends of Animals, but he appears to be getting healthier and gathering strength. He has put on almost 10 pounds in the time he has been there, his wounds have been stitched up, and staff are keeping an eye on them to make sure they heal.
The goal is to eventually put Sir Didymus in a foster home or have him be adopted, “but he gets a lot of attention here,” Szymanski said. The shelter is also seeking donations to its general medical fund to help pay for the care of animals like Sir Didymus.
“He is a very, very sweet dog,” Szymanski said. “We’re starting to see him perk up. He’s a very sweet pet.”
Additional information on Fayette Friends of Animals can be found online at ffoashelter.org, or by calling 724-245-7815.