Rescued Florida dog now recovering in ‘protective custody’

Author: Associated Press
Published:
Courtesy: WTSP

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – A dog rescued after being shot and tied to railroad tracks in Florida has been released from a veterinary clinic to continue its recovery.

Tampa Bay Veterinary Emergency Service posted a message on its Facebook page late Friday saying Cabela had “left the building to go into super secret, never to be revealed, protective custody.” The 1-year-old mixed-breed dog was in hiding to “heal, socialize and begin her transition to a new life,” the post said.

Tampa Police have said that Cabela was shot, tied to railroad tracks and left to die earlier this month because it wouldn’t fight.

The Tampa Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/1x6iItO ) that a Hillsborough County judge on Friday denied bail for two men accused of using Cabela for fighting.

Darnell Devlin, 18, and Kenny Bell, 21, each face two counts of possession of a dogfighting dog. When they were arrested Wednesday at their Tampa home, detectives also discovered two more dogs that were used for fighting.

Jail records Sunday did not show whether either Devlin or Bell had an attorney.

Authorities said Devlin and Bell gave Cabela to two 17-year-olds, who have been charged as adults with aggravated animal cruelty and trespassing. One teen also was charged with possession of a firearm.

According to police, surveillance video showed four people walking to the tracks with the dog on March 4. Two adults left, but the teens stayed, and officers arrived a short time later in response to a call about shots fired.

The veterinary clinic also posted a video this week showing the dog walking with a limp but also with its tail wagging. Cabela’s story made national news after a photo of the bloodied dog in a police officer’s arms was widely circulated online.

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