Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Driver tried to hide crack cocaine by feeding it to puppy

A puppy that was fed crack cocaine by a driver who was stopped at a DUI checkpoint appears to be healthy and unharmed by the incident.

Dr. Steven Smolen, a veterinarian at the Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Shaler, who was on duty when the puppy was brought in, said the puppy is "doing very well."

"It was really very thin from not getting the proper nutrition. We're treating it for internal and external parasites -- worms and fleas and ticks," he said.

He said one person called the clinic yesterday morning, wanting to adopt the dog. But, the trooper called yesterday, as well, and wants the clinic to hold onto the dog until he can "make arrangements."

Police said charges are pending against the driver, identified as Rich Lavelle, 19, of Pittsburgh. State police said Mr. Lavelle would be charged with cruelty to animals, DUI, driving under suspension and other summary offenses.

"The plan is that the dog is not going back to that owner," Dr. Smolen said.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Disgusting ! Immediately remove this dog and jail the driver for animal abuse.

ThEmIsFiTiShErE said...

I agree!! I don't like SEEING animals treated badly!!

Anonymous said...

i think what the officer did was commendable, i wish the puppy years of happiness, nothing should happen to him. too bad something couldn't be done for the driver, maybe some of the same medicine or a slow death. no i don't think i'm nuts, but i recall dahmer, cruelty to animals and later to people. the officer should know just how he affected the lives of people everywhere, there is goodness in this world.