Dog tossed from moving car along Interstate 35

KVUE ^

[chance33_98]

Dog tossed from moving car along Interstate 35

04/03/2002

Kris Gutierrez, KVUE News

Her name is Cleo and she's lucky to be alive.

KVUE's Kris Gutierrez reports

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The small white dog was thrown out of a moving vehicle on Interstate 35 in a case similar to a string of cat killings on the interstate last year.

"I'm very happy to have her back," said Ame Gadsby, Cleo's owner. "These are like children, all these animals, they all have their own personalities.

"I can't imagine how anyone would throw a child out of a window or car or do anytihng cruel."

On Friday, while Gadsby was out of town, Cleo escaped from her dog sitter. Two hours later, she was in the median of I-35 after being tossed out the window of a moving car.

Cleo would not have survived if it hadn't been for Christian Kurtz.

"I saw it actually fall from the car and land in the median between two lanes on the freeway," Kurtz said. "Everybody in the traffic had stopped, so that was lucky. So i basically walked out there and picked her up and put her in the car and took her to the vet clinic."

Kurtz set up a donation box so people can help pay for the dog's recovery, a cost that includes a $3,000 surgery to repair her broken pelvis and dislocated hip.

So while Cleo recovers, pet lovers in Austin want to put her attacker behind bars.

It's definitely disturbing to know that there are people out there that think that's fun," Kurtz said. "That that's an idea of a good time."

Last year's cases involving the cats on the interstate prompted the Animal Trustees of Austin to post a billboard along the interstate, warning the public of the problem.

No arrests were ever made in those cases.

State law makes animal abuse a felony, punishable bu up to two years in jail and a fine of $10,000.

Anyone who knows anything about Cleo's incident is asked to call 837-7985.

[chance33_98]

I hope they catch the sick freak

[chance33_98]

Bump to the lists

[B4Ranch]

I hope they shoot the freak, save us the cost of a trial and mental fixups.

[cricket]

"I hope they catch the sick freak"

. . .and then convict him of animal abuse and put him behind bars for maximum time allowed. Should he be found guilty of more than one incident; then it should be time served consecutively.

No sympathy; no excuses. . .these people. . .ie 'freaks'. . .should be held accountable for their actions. . .

[Pern]

Ditto.

[Sangamon Kid]

I'll take a break on this one. The last time I questioned the wisdom of severe penalties for "animal abuse", the forum animal lovers almost strung me up.

Waiting for the usual suspects to show up anytime now...

[austingirl]

I am so glad that this little animal, Cleo, was saved. I am shaking with anger at the cretin that would do such an evil act. I hope the perpetrator is apprehended and punished.

[scholar]

So while Cleo recovers, pet lovers in Austin want to put her attacker behind bars.

I am a serious animal lover and I would love to see this A$$-hole behind bars--but can't refrain from asking how many of those animal lovers are concerned about the babies that are being destroyed for the convenience of their irresponsible progenitors--wouldn't think of calling them parents.

[trevorjohnson]

They want 3 thousand dollars for a stupid animal's surgery. Why are we doing advanced surgery on small pets when we have an overburdened health care systme? Save the 3,000 and put a bullet int he dog's head. Sure, that sounds cruel...but coommmmee onnnn people. It's an animal!

[Chu Gary]

Sure, that sounds cruel...but coommmmee onnnn people. It's an animal!

Hey moron, it obviously hasn't occurred to you that you too are an animal, a pseudo-person, perhaps, but an animal, like we all are. Dropped out of grade school, did you?

[scholar]

As much as I love animals--I am with you. This is too bizarre. Would be great if these people were donating to save an uninsured human.

[mafree]

This is terrible! Hope the poor doggie recovers.

[RodgerD]

Spending lots of money on saving individual animals, like this dog, or some whale stuck in the ice, isn't going to be justified by counting the dollars. The reward is to our sense of humanity - to what sets apart from the beasts in the first place. A liberal notion maybe, but not a bad one in this case.

[sinkspur]

They want 3 thousand dollars for a stupid animal's surgery. Why are we doing advanced surgery on small pets when we have an overburdened health care systme? Save the 3,000 and put a bullet int he dog's head. Sure, that sounds cruel...but coommmmee onnnn people. It's an animal!

I'd pay it. We don't have an overburdened animal health care system.

As for uninsured humans, they're not my responsiblity. My dog IS my responsibility, and I'm not going to kill my dog to save a human.

[moyden]

Lots of pagan cults in Austin.

[Shethink13]

"I'm very happy to have her back," said Ame Gadsby, Cleo's owner. "These are like children, all these animals, they all have their own personalities.

"I can't imagine how anyone would throw a child out of a window or car or do anytihng cruel."

Look, I think this is a sick act, but this statement really bugs me. It was NOT a child, it was a dog. And to equate the two makes me crazy.

[rintense]

Bastards.

[rintense]

Hey, can you add me to the dog list!

[Polonius]

Lots of pagan cults in Austin.

Ah yes, they must have been re-enacting the ancient Druid ritual of throwing a dog out of a moving car. C'mon, be serious.

[rintense]

As for uninsured humans, they're not my responsiblity. My dog IS my responsibility, and I'm not going to kill my dog to save a human.

Amen. Especially when the animal's injuries are the RESULT of a human.