CINCINNATI – A puppy still recovering after being severely burned in September has found work as a therapy dog for child burn victims.
Romee, a 7-month-old Labrador-shepherd mix, was taken to the Anderson Hills Animal Care Hospital five months ago with severe burns, WKRC reported.
“I have seen the photos from September, when he first got in, and they are pretty shocking,” Ray Anderson of the Cincinnati Animal CARE Humane Society, whose wardens oversaw the case, told WXIX. “Looks like this was some kind of burn, most likely maybe boiling water or oil, very well could’ve been accidental, but then when you’re not seeking vet care, that’s when it becomes neglect.”
Romee was brought in for treatment about five days after he suffered his injuries. He has since had about 50 procedures with several more planned. While he is recovering, he remains blind in one eye.
“It looked like he had been burned, but we couldn’t really determine what caused it. The owner was in denial. She denied anything like that ever happened,” Hamilton County Dog Warden Cpt. Brandon Corcoran told WKRC.
Despite the denials, Romee’s former owner was convicted of animal cruelty and sentenced to three years of probation and required to pay $15,000 for Romee’s medical bills, WKRC reported. The former owner has not been identified, WXIX reported.
Romee was quickly adopted and now lives in Cleveland. He will soon start training to be a therapy dog for children in hospital burn units.
“Since he’s obviously been in the burn unit himself, I think kids will get really excited when they’re going through something really tough,” Corcoran said.
