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By SEAN LENGELL
ZEPHYRHILLS - Miracle the puppy almost lived up to her name.
But, in the end, the severe beating and torture the pit bull mix suffered several months ago proved to be too much.
After surviving several surgeries and making a remarkable recovery, the dog died May 20 at her adopted Zephyrhills home.
“It was probably just her time to go,” said veterinarian Gail Mendenhall, who oversaw the dog’s recovery at Crystal Springs Veterinary Clinic. “She always did better than expected. ... I never thought she’d make it the first 24 hours.”
Gary Franckewich, a Zephyrhills carpenter, found the 5-month-old dog, her snout clamped shut with rubber bands, at a job site in Crystal Springs Dec. 5. Maggots had infested the animal’s tongue, part of which had to be amputated.
Three of the dog’s legs were broken. One hind leg was separated from the hip.
Franckewich, who named the dog “Miracle,” visited her daily at the clinic for several months.
“She is fantastic; she went from a tortured dog to as normal as can be for a puppy,” he told The Tampa Tribune in February. “She is trusting with people again.”
After no one came forth to claim her, Franckewich adopted Miracle, taking her home April 16 — Easter Sunday. He could not be reached Friday. Miracle was gaining weight and seemed to be doing well, said Mendenhall, who saw the dog a few times after she left the clinic.
Two weeks ago, after feeding Miracle, Franckewich ran out to the store. He returned less than two hours later to find her dead, just outside her doggy door, next to a pile of undigested food she had vomited.
A necropsy revealed the animal probably choked to death, Mendenhall said.
“She got loving care; it’s just one of those freak things,” she said.
Angel Andino, 14, of Crystal Springs, was arrested in February and charged with animal cruelty after four acquaintances stepped forward with information that led to his arrest.
He was sentenced in April to one year in a juvenile detention center, where he will receive psychological counseling.
Miracle received hundreds of letters of support from throughout the world — many including donations to help pay the animal’s veterinary bills.
Mendenhall said the clinic would write back everyone who donated money and return a portion of what they gave. Anything left over will be donated to a local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
“We’re wanting her to rest in peace,” she said. “We’re hurting so badly in here. We loved that little dog so much.”
Jeff Scullin contributed to this story. Contact Sean Lengell at (813) 948-4215 or slengell@tampatrib.com.
My heart breaks at what poor little Miracle went through at the hands of a sadistic, evil person...a person who is just 14 years of age. I hope to God the child gets help before he causes more pain and suffering in this life.
It is heartbreaking to see any animal suffer due to human mean spiritedness. I just cried when they found that poor little dog and again now knowing she didn’t make it. God Bless all those kind hearts who made her life better after they rescued her.
This story was very disturbing to me. A recent transplant from Newport, RI it was the first time I had heard about “Miracle”. May she rest in peace. As a supporter of The Potter League Animal Shelter” in RI, I have seen many abused and tortured animals, none as heinous as this! I certainly hope her torturer will be reminded daily for the rest of his life of the crime he committed against the poor helpless animal.
God bless all of you who cared for miracle. Gary what a wonderful person you are for taking care to see that miracle had the best life possible while she was with you. May God Bless you with another loving pet, not to replace miracle, but to be blessed to have a owner like you. Thanks to the vets that cared for miracle also. My heart and prayers are with you.
God Bless You!
Iam so deeply sadden for your lost of mirical… You must remember thah you gave him all the love you could and he takes that with him...You are one of a kind.. Theres a place in HEAVEN for you and you will see him again ...IN GODS name With love for all the time you spentwith him Joann
To everyone who rescued, cared for and supported this precious little victim, my heart and sympathy and hugs are with you. Everybody went above and beyond in this pups care. Hopefully Miracle will not leave us with a hole of where she used to be, but instead fill us with hope, as she truely showed us the meanings of the words spirit and courage and determination, she was a SURVIVOR. She didnt leave us empty, she left us with lessons on many different levels. And I really hope the 14 year old gets more than a year and couseling, that pushishment is much too light for the crime and not enough psych. help for someone with a black enough heart to abuse a creature in such a horrid fashion. This isnt a youngn cooking ants with a mag. glass on the sidewalk. This is a cruel torturous murderer in the making. :(
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Posted by Linda J Beavers, Tampa,Fl. on 06/03 at 08:30 PM
Miracle was a blessed animal that some kind hearted gentleman picked her up and took her for care. It is ashame that this puppy passsed on after
finally finding a loving home. I am also concerned
about the young man that did this. What happened to him that he is such an angry young man that he would do such a thing to an innocent animal? What
has happened to him? Who taught him to be so cruel? Sure he could be a big problem when he is older if he isn’t treated properly. What crime was committed against him and who was the person that did it? He is a child of God as are we all.