Tied To Twig, Abandoned Dog 'Summer' Would Have Died Without Surgery

BRANFORD, CT — She was found abandoned in a wooded area near the Interstate, tied to a twig eight days ago. Wednesday night, she had to have emergency surgery or die.

Laura Burban said she feels badly having to ask over and over again for help. But the cost to save the life of the dog Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter workers named Summer, is steep.

Summer's story is another of the seemingly endless accounts of pets abandoned because owners either cannot, or will not, care for their dogs and cats.

"How someone could leave you the way they did is so beyond me. And to imagine eight days ago, I didn’t even know you, but I cried over you last night, not knowing if you would survive. I’m on literally no sleep doing this post, so forgive the rambling..."

Burban, Cosgrove animal shelter director, posted to Facebook another plea.

"We need to raise money for Summer. I feel bad because all this week I feel like we continually asked for help for these poor abandoned animals and I didn’t know I would be asking again. But Summer deserves this chance and desperately needs us right now," Burban wrote.

Summer had been bred many times and after was never spayed. She developed an infection that led to internal bleeding and almost cost her her life. And about cost, it'll be around $6,000 to see her through this "critical"medical crisis.

The infection she has is one that Burban said "happens to dogs who are bred and are not spayed." Summer began bleeding externally, then internally, and was rushed to get emergency surgery.

She lost a lot of blood, but survived, though she may need transfusions going forward.

"Summer would have died if she was not provided with the life-saving surgeries she received," Burban wrote. "And all they had to do was to spay her and this infection would not have started."

So, it didn't have to happen, Burban wrote.

"People call us constantly and say my dog is acting aggressive. My dog seems to have discharge. My dog is humping everyone in the house. My dog is continuously roaming. I want to get rid of him or her. And when we ask, 'are they spayed or neutered?' they say, 'No, why does that matter? And when we explain why it matters. They say I’m not interested in doing that, I just want the dog gone. Please stop. Please spay and neuter your animals. Please take responsibility for them when you bring them into your homes. Please do not say it’s not your problem."

For those able and/or willing to help, may donate online here, noting it is "For Summer." Or, by mailing a check to DCAS 11 Cherry Hill Road, Branford, CT 06405.

Update: Monday, Aug. 8: