Simone's Story

Update 6/22/09

Simone has found her forever home! After extensive treatment at the Rancho Cucamonga Animal Care and Adoption Center for the last two and a half months, Simone was finally available for adoption on Saturday the 20th. That was the day Simone found the Fontana family, and thereby a loving home. We wish Simone and her new family the best of luck in their new life together.

A HUGE thank you goes out to all those who donated money to help with Simone's medical costs, as well as those who donated towards the reward. We couldn't have done it without you. As a result of your generosity, this sweet girl will have the opportunity to live a happy healthy life.

Update 6/16/09

Simone is feeling better and is ready for her forever home!!! Simone will be available for adoption on Saturday June 20th, 2009. We will be taking applications and doing meet and greets with her from 12 pm to 5 pm. At the end of the day, our staff will determine which home has the resources that best fit Simone’s needs.

If you are interested in adopting her, please come to the Animal Center with your entire family (no exceptions) and any resident dogs. We would prefer that Simone be the only dog in the household as she can be a bit picky when it comes to other dogs. Due to her traumatic experience, we will be requiring that she go to a home with children no younger than 12 years old.

Update 5/26/09

Unfortunately Simone’s adoption day will have to be moved back once more. Simone has developed a lesion on her chest. Our vet staff is working to figure out what it is so she can be treated for it. We do not have a new availability date for her yet. Please keep an eye on our website for more information.

Simone’s Journey at the Animal Center

On April 5th Simone came in to the Rancho Cucamonga Animal Center with a total of 19 stab wounds and was in shock. Our Veterinary staff was able to treat her for the shock and stabilize her. Once stable, our Veterinarian examined Simone and treated her for what appeared to be superficial wounds. During an hour long surgery, our Veterinarian combined the majority of the stab wounds on the right side of her neck and sutured them into one incision. The stab wounds on top of her head and right chest were left open to heal.

On April 15th, staples from the first surgery site were removed, but the ends of the surgery site were still open and draining. A few hours later Simone ended up scratching her neck and opening the site all over again. She was scheduled to have her wounds rechecked the next day as they were not healing properly. At the same time she also scheduled to be spayed.

During the spay surgery on the 16th, it was found that her wounds were more extensive than previously thought. The stab wounds to her chest had entered into the chest cavity and into the abdomen. To identify the extent of her injuries, our Veterinarian performed abdominal exploratory surgery. She found that 3 of the stab wounds had damaged Simone’s diaphragm, abdominal cavity, and liver. The damage was repaired and she was spayed at the same time. Following this surgery, Simone was cleaned up and had the open incisions sutured. To ensure that Simone had round the clock care while recovering from this 2 hour surgery, our Field Services Officers transported her to VCA Central Animal Hospital, a 24 hour facility, for observation and pain management. Simone returned to the center 3 days later looking good and healing well.

Two days after returning to the Center, the stab wounds on top of her head/neck area became swollen and started oozing fluid. On April 23rd, a third surgery was performed to relieve a seroma that had formed over her neck, head, and left ear. There was a lot of ‘dead space’ under her skin in these areas from the stabbing trauma, so our Vet opened the area up, cleaned it out, and placed drains in it.

At this point, all the incisions from the 2nd and 3rd surgeries were finally healing well. Unfortunately our brave little girl came down with what was thought to be kennel cough on April 27th. She was started on medication to treat the kennel cough, but the next day her condition worsened. She became more congested and started having difficulty breathing. To figure out what disease could be affecting her, our vet staff ran a variety of tests, including a parvo test which came back negative, and a blood panel which showed toxic changes taking place in her body.

On April 29th, Simone still did not feel well and was not eating. X-rays were performed, the results of which were consistent with pneumonia. She was then transferred that evening to the 24 hour facility once again for oxygen therapy, IV fluids, intravenous antibiotics, follow-up x-rays, and observation. The hospital confirmed severe pneumonia.

On May 5th, Simone once again returned to the Center. All the surgery sites had healed and sutures/drains were removed. She had lost 9 pounds since her arrival at the Center and was very thin. She is slowly regaining her weight back and continues to recover from the pneumonia. Repeat x-rays on May 11th; show much improvement in her chest. After 3, 1-2 hour surgeries and pneumonia, as well as her other supportive treatments, Simone has never lost her sweet nature and loves all the attention she is getting. She is a brave girl and is loved by all at the Center.

Original Story

A small (32-pound), brown Beagle mix was discovered in critical condition Sunday morning, April 5, 2009 by a City of Rancho Cucamonga Graffiti Crew near the southwest border of Rancho Cucamonga. The little dog suffered 19 stab wounds to the neck and torso. The Graffiti Crew immediately called the Rancho Cucamonga Animal Care & Adoption Center and an Animal Control Officer was dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, the officer found the dog in serious condition, hypothermic and having lost a great deal of blood. The officer rushed the injured dog to the Animal Center and the Center’s Veterinarian was called in for diagnostics and emergency surgery.

Our department recently completed a new surgical facility which allowed the critical patient, now called Simone, to receive immediate medical attention. Simone is a sweet and affectionate girl who is still able to wag her tail and lick the faces of the veterinary staff. We hope to find her a loving home when she is fully recovered.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Rancho Cucamonga Station, is currently investigating this crime. Anyone with any information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Rancho Cucamonga Police Station at (909) 477-2800 or WE-TIP at 1 (800) 78-CRIME. The Animal Care and Services Department is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who is guilty of this cruel and senseless act. The attack occurred sometime before 8:11 a.m. the morning of Sunday, April 5th, near the intersection of Redhill Country Club Drive and Carnelian Street.

Donations for Simone’s care or to add to the reward can be sent to: The Animal Care and Adoption Center, PO Box 807, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729-9963. Please make checks payable to the Community Foundation and put Animal Center – Simone Care or Animal Center – Simone Reward in the memo line.

View Related Newscasts:

http://cbs2.com/local/Stabbed.Dog.Home.2.985202.html

http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/news/local/Dog_Found_Stabbed_in_Rancho_Cucamonga_20090415