September 8, 2010
Springville, AL (US)
Incident Date: Tuesday, Aug 17, 2010
County: Saint Clair
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
When Gary Long and his wife, Judy, moved to Rolling Oaks Estates in St. Clair County six years ago, neither of them ever expected they would send out a call for information on an animal
abuser.
That was before Major, the neighborhood dog, disappeared two weeks ago. The four-year-old Rottweiler mix was gone a full week before he was found at his friend Snoopy's house -- shot, stabbed
and mutilated.
"This is pure evil," Long said. "There has to be more than one person involved to hold a dog down and cut it up like that.
"In this case, I want to know, who is the real animal?"
Major was released from Main Street Animal Hospital on Friday, and the Longs are caring for him in their garage.
"When our neighbors found him, he looked like he had lost 20 pounds," Long said. "He was out of it. The neighbors wrapped him up and brought him to our house, and we put him in our van and took
him to the vet."
Major was taken to surgery, where the veterinary team found he had been shot at least once in the right leg; that his hip had been shattered so badly a pin could not be inserted to hold the joint
together.
The dog was stabbed in the left hip, and that hip also was cut open.
But those are not the worst injuries. Major's penis was almost cut off; the vet had to remove the penis and create an artificial opening for urination.
Long has paid the vet clinic $760, leaving a balance of $263 for the surgery and hospitalization. More fees will be added as the medical care continues.
"I'm not asking for donations," Long said. "I just want the people who did this caught."
He said he is offering a reward for any information that can lead to an arrest in the case. Also, the Springville Police Department and the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department have been
notified.
Major showed up in the neighborhood about three years ago. The Longs, as well as other neighbors, have been taking care of him since then. His best friend, Snoopy, is a beagle who lives down the
street.
"Major and Snoopy run between our three or four houses," Long said. "They aren't cat chasers or holediggers, and they stay right around here."
Long, who spent his career in law enforcement, says he cannot help but suspect the abuse may involve teenage boys he encountered several months ago. He said he was walking to his mailbox when he
heard the two teenage boys in the truck say, "Let's kill these dogs," pointing to Major and Snoopy, who were in his yard near the road.
"They didn't see me when they said that, but I walked up and told them, 'If you've got a problem with these dogs, you've got a problem with me,' " Long said.
The boys drove away, but neighbors said the truck they were in was back on the street about midnight the night Major disappeared.
"I'm not accusing anyone," Long said. "But if you ever call Major, he comes to you. They could have picked him up and put him in the truck."
Anyone having any information regarding this case should call the St. Clair County Sheriff's office or the Springville Police.
