Wounded dog with taped mouth found in East New York garbage bag

Canine in good hands at Brooklyn emergency vet

December 21, 2017 By Scott Enman Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Saint Vincent is treated by emergency vets. Photos courtesy of VERG

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A dog was found in a trash bag in East New York on Tuesday night with its mouth tied shut.

A passerby noticed sounds and movement coming from the waste receptacle and contacted NYPD. Police officers arrived promptly and cut the container open to find the wounded dog.

“My immediate reaction was disgust, and I was repulsed that a human being could do that to a dog,” Medical Director of Veterinary Emergency & Referral Group (VERG) Dr. Brett Levitzke told the Brooklyn Eagle. “I was astonished at the depth of cruelty.”

He added, “On admission to the hospital, he could barely move. He couldn’t lift his head. It was only after 24 hours of intensive treatment that he was able to start eating and drinking on his own.”

The 10- to 12-year-old shepherd-mix male canine has been named Saint Vincent by its rescuers and was found near Jackie Robinson Parkway and Pennsylvania Avenue.

After discovering the dog, NYPD officials requested the help of New York Bully Crew, a nonprofit that helps animals in need, to transport the animal to one of VERG’s locations.

VERG has two branches. VERG-South is located at 2220 Flatbush Ave. in Marine Park. VERG-North recently moved to 196 Fourth Ave. in Gowanus from its previous location on Warren Street in Cobble Hill.

Emergency veterinarians at VERG-South provided Saint Vincent with life-saving IV fluids and gave him antibiotics. They also ran blood work to check on his organ systems and provided him with nursing and supportive care.

Levitzke confirmed that Saint Vincent regained some of his personality and energy after receiving medication.

“Absolutely. From progressing from the horrible shape he was in when they removed him from the bag to the point where he was able to lift his head and interact,” Levitzke told the Eagle.

“I placed down a pillow for him and as soon as I did that, he immediately laid his head down on it. It was probably one of the first soft bits of comfort he experienced in his life.”

Saint Vincent was transferred to VERG-North on Wednesday.

New York Bully Crew has taken custody of Saint Vincent and plans to find a family to adopt him after he is medically cleared.

Levitzke believes that Saint Vincent will be just fine.

“He’s definitely going to survive the acute trauma that was laid on him by his owner,” Levitzke said. “Now the question is, he does have some chronic problems from being an older dog, and we’re going to get to the bottom of that.”

Police officers are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to contact NYPD or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

“There is somebody out there who is going to recognize this beautiful dog’s face, and we can only hope that they call, make an anonymous call to the police or call some sort of media outlet,” Levitzke told the Eagle.

Follow reporter Scott Enman on Twitter.