Boxer Puppy Has Leg Amputated After Being Brutally Kicked By Owner's Nephew
HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- A man is facing animal cruelty charges for kicking his aunt's 8-month-old puppy so hard that one of the animal's legs had to be amputated.
State police say the incident happened in October at a house on Newark Street in Hempfield Township.
Emily, the boxer puppy, is recovering well from the severe injury. In fact, just like many other puppies, she's full of energy and spirit and has a tail that wags nonstop.
But, what happened to her is something her owner calls an incredible act of cruelty.
Mary Gannon, Emily's owner, and a witness say Gannon's nephew attacked the animal.
"She got excited on the porch where he was oat, and she peed on his foot," said Gannon.
Gannon's nephew, 21-year-old Zach Gannon, is accused of kicking the dog in its hind leg while in a rage.
Not home at the time, Gannon says she saw Emily later limping, and the normally sweet dog wouldn't let anyone get near her.
"If you'd try to touch her, she'd yelp or nipping at you," Gannon says.
It would, however, become clear what happened to the dog's leg.
"He broke it," said Gannon.
At first Gannon's nephew denied it, but then she says she got a text from him.
"'This is the reason why your dog has three legs, it's cause of me, [expletive],'" said Gannon.
State police arrested Zach and charged him with animal cruelty.
Meanwhile, Mary says what Emily did is what all puppies do. But in her opinion, what her nephew supposedly did can be summed up in two words.
"Very evil," she says.
Emily is expected to do just fine. But Zach is facing significant fines.
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