By now many people have heard of Brownie’s story, a 5 month old Australian Shepherd who was beaten with a tire iron, allegedly by her owner’s boyfriend. The boyfriend is a chronic violent offender recently paroled for rape and assault.
Brownie in recovery
The outpouring of support, financial and otherwise, for Brownie has been incredible and, to me, quite deserving. Like small children, companion animals are completely innocent and dependent upon us for their safety and well-being.
They make no choices about where or with whom they live.
If no one feeds them, they starve.
If no one takes them in from the cold, they freeze.
And when someone decides to kick them, strangle them, or beat them with a tire iron, they cannot move out or call 911.
Sadly, I have to say that I believe Brownie’s story only unique in that she was found before she died, and that we have someone willing to come forward and tell us what happened to her. The Ypsilanti Police Department has done an outstanding job with this case. Had they not shown such great concern and diligence, we may have never known that our unidentified injured stray dog was really Brownie.
We see abused and neglected animals every single day. Beaten, abandoned, thrown from car windows, locked in closets, tied out back behind the garage with no food, etc. Domestic abusers often hurt or kill family pets as a way to control, intimidate, or silence their human victims.
Too often these animals suffer in silence.
HSHV has a fantastic Animal Cruelty and Rescue Department, paid for solely by donations. But it is only when someone comes forward to report the abuse that can we seek protection and justice for the animal.
We rely on the community to not just pay for the cruelty investigations and care of these animals, as so many have generously done, but also to be our eyes and ears, and, ultimately, to be their voices.
We are so grateful for those who help us do our jobs and for those who have the courage to speak out for our four-legged friends.
Thank you for the update on and care of Brownie. He’s been on my mind since I read about the beating in The Oakland Press. I’m heartened to know donations have been sent and his recovery picture is amazing. Will he require special adoption conditions due to his injuries?
HSHV and Ypsi Police will be forever thanked by people who know Brownie’s story and Brownie herself. Here’s to a speedy recovery, Brownie. Good luck finding a good home.