The Siberian husky that was beaten by a 16-year-old teenager in Cajuru (SP) found a new home this Tuesday (10). Named Bela, the three-year-old dog was adopted by trader Mariana de Oliveira, who claims that the decision is final.
"We're going to keep her, we're going to take care of her, we're going to give her love, and it's a permanent home. There's no way we can open the doors and say: 'I'm going to give her away again', because my fear is that it will happen again," he said.
According to Mariana, the person who took the dog home was her daughter, student Maria Eduarda de Oliveira. Initially, the trader was afraid to take responsibility, but changed her mind when she saw the condition the animal was in.
“I know what a responsibility it is, and she (Maria) brought it and there’s no way to say: ‘no, I’m not going to take it’, because the dog’s condition is deplorable, she’s very thin,” she said.
The case happened on Monday morning (9), on a street in Jardim Santa Maria Goreti, and was recorded by security cameras. The images sparked outrage after being shared on social media.
According to the Civil Police, the teenager was located and arrested at a farm. The police report was registered on Monday morning and the case is being investigated as animal abuse.
The teenager's defense did not comment on the matter until the last update of this report.
Rescue and health status
After the attacks, representatives of a non-governmental organization (NGO) managed to rescue Bela and send her for veterinary care. According to volunteer Adriana Messias, a person who knew the teenager contacted him and asked him to hand over the animal.
"There was a person who knew the boy (who committed the attacks), got in touch with him, with the images, and asked for the animal. He delivered the animal to the corner of the bakery, we picked it up, contacted the vet and followed up with what needs to be done", he explained.
Veterinarian Maria Júlia Ré, who carried out the initial care, reported that the dog had cachexia, a condition characterized by a marked loss of weight and muscle mass, as well as anemia.
"She has cachexia and she is also experiencing anemia. So now we are finalizing her blood tests so we can know if she has any other associated disease. We have also carried out a blood count and biochemical tests and also an ultrasound. We will wait for the results of these tests and evaluate her clinical condition better", he stated.
In addition to Maria Júlia, veterinarian Natália Barroso also monitors Bela's recovery. According to her, the dog's nutritional and emotional state requires attention, especially during the period of adaptation to the new home.
"Her emotional state is important now, especially because of all the attention she is receiving, arriving in a home that already has another animal, that has a child. So, we will have to monitor everything with more care, and also the issue of her nutrition, which has been subjugated all this time. She is very malnourished and has had liver damage as a result", he explained.
Natália also stated that Bela still shows fear, but has cooperated during the care. Despite the physical fragility, the veterinarian did not identify signs of aggression.
"It is a breed that is not so docile and as it is very weak, it knows that it cannot react, but it has already had several signs here that it did not show aggression, that it did not show a reaction. It is being collaborative with us and the recovery has everything to be successful", he said.
Security camera images show the teenager and a young woman walking along the sidewalk on Rua Paraná with the dog on a leash. At one point, the animal takes what appears to be food from the young woman's hand.
Next, the boy kicks the animal's head three times and also hits it in the back. The force of one of the blows causes the animal to be launched into the air.
After the attacks, the dog is unconscious. The teenager drags her by the leash and even suspends her by the accessory.
From another angle of the recording, it is possible to hear the animal crying. The young man still picks up a tile, but then lets it go. Then, he pulls the dog and forces her to walk again.
The case was registered by the Civil Police, which is investigating the incident as a practice of animal abuse.
