ID might have saved injured dog's life

Domestic animal owners must have their animals controlled at all times, whether inside or out, and have identification (tags or microchips) on them. If not, serious consequences could result.

On Nov. 9, on the 800 block of Walnut Avenue in Elgin, an older Labrador retriever was hit and seriously injured after darting into traffic. He was bleeding profusely from a deep, large gash in a rear leg. The animal control officer of the Elgin Police Department took the dog to a veterinarian.

To repair the extensive damage and to save the dog, a diagnosis was made that amputation would have been necessary. This would have required a significant financial cost. The needed funds were not available at the time of the diagnosis so the dog was euthanized 45 minutes after being struck.

The dog had no identification tags. The dog's owner, living in the block next to the accident scene, did not report the animal missing until several hours later. It was moving day, and the dog was not anchored in the backyard and was able to leave the property.

Always contain an animal in a room, an animal carrier or crate, or on a trolley device in the backyard on moving day, when you have a party, when a repairman is expected, or any other similar situation when an animal might escape and be in danger. And have identification on the animal at all times. Municipalities, veterinarians, and animal shelters all have microchip scanning devices for locating owners.

This Elgin scenario could have been avoided. The sad part is, it wasn't the dog's fault and he paid with his life.

Susan Hess

Elgin