The incident happened in January of 2015.  The dog in question is one reported to have been left outside in all kinds of weather with no adequate shelter, and was also forced to go long periods without food and water.

Cuce-Rodriguez has a long history of dog rescuing.  In fact all four of the Cuce sisters have something to do with dog rescue in one form or another, so one might say rescue runs in the family.  So, when the news about the poor dog was brought to her attention, she couldn’t think of anything else to do but act naturally.  She had to rescue the dog.

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According to WKOW, police officers were called to the wildlife area after a group of people found a camping bag moving and tossing on the ground. Upon opening the bag, the concerned citizens found a malnourished elderly black lab wrapped in a blanket and with had multiple head wounds.

The dog was rushed to a veterinarian and a total of 19 stitches were needed to close the deep lesions on her head. Veterinarians said even though Misty had sustained unimaginable abuse, she would recover. Today, she is alive and thriving.

When news broke about the injured pet, 56-year-old Terri Lynn Benson came forward and identified herself as the dog’s owner.

Benson told police the night before Misty was found injure in the woods she got out and came back home “acting goofy.” She was throwing up, having uncontrollable bowel movements and seizures. Not knowing what to do the woman took the dog for a ride.

“I thought she was dead,” Benson told police. “I didn’t have any money to do anything, my other half did call [Dr. Michael] Cooper about putting her down.”

The pet owner admitted disposing of the dog’s body in the woods after she believed Misty died in the car. However, authorities questioned Benson about the head injuries and she confessed using a hammer to put an end to her suffering pet.

Fifty dollars would have been the cost to humanly euthanize Misty, but instead her owner placed a blanket over her head and hit her with a hammer multiple times.

Benson has been charged with mistreatment of animals, disorderly conduct use of dangerous weapon and animal abandonment. She is scheduled to appear in court next month to face her punishment.

The dog is under the care of Columbia County Humane Society and has made a remarkable recovery. People across the nation have shown their support by donating towards her care and sending gifts. The shelter has also received more than 50 requests to adopt the elderly dog. However, there are other health issues that need to be cleared before she could move into a forever home.

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Yesterday, Pulaski County Jude Herbert Wright said he would be holding off on making the decision in an effort to get more information  He is requesting that both the defense and the city show documentation and reasons why he should be deciding in that party’s favor.  The interest in fairness is a good thing, however it’s making life rougher than it should be for a little girl and her family.

“Ahmeha is regressing and it’s kind of making things a lot worse on us at home,” Amanda said just after leaving the court room Monday.  “Since her service dog Edith was taken away, Ahmeha has been diagnosed as depressed.”

The Family’s lawyer, Clint Lancaster said that the issue is a tricky one, and quite unusual considering all involved.

“You know I think it is a very unique issue,” said Lancaster.  “It’s not something you see every day especially in a criminal case.”  Lancaster also said that there have been protesters trying to sway the judge in the family’s favor as well, and voicing their opposition to breed specific legislation in the city.

“If you do not make an accommodation in your BSL for service animals or emotional support animals, then you’re violating the FHA and the laws are very, very clear on that in our opinion,” Lancaster said.

Due to the judge’s call on Monday, this extends things for at least one more month, and Amanda Simmons is worried about what it is doing to her daughter.

“She doesn’t want my comfort and support she just wants her dog. She just wants her dog,” said Amanda Simmons.

Robert Bamburg, attorney for the City of Jacksonville declined to comment on the situation.  The next court date is set for February 7^th.

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Honey is an adorable pit bull in the process of being certified as an emotional support dog for a four-year-old boy with a sensory processing disorder.  She’s always been a very good girl, never needing a leash to run to the car for a ride, but one day someone was riding a bike past her, and the part of her dog brain that commands her to attack bike and car wheels got the better of her.  She nipped the ankle of the rider, who is fighting to have her put to sleep.  But Honey’s family is fighting tooth and nail to keep her alive, and need your help.

This comes from her Facebook page:

For those who are wondering what is going on, here’s the story. I have hesitated to post this, obviously because I own two pit bulls and the last thing I wanted was for someone to have a hay day with my dog’s misfortune. On July 25th, Katy was going to grab some breakfast and decided to take Honey with her. Honey always goes straight to car, excited about going for a ride. Because of this, we have never leashed her when going for a ride in the car. Neither Katy nor I checked the street before opening the gate. When we opened the gate, Honey saw someone riding a bicycle that we did not see.

Yes, like any dog, she ran for the bike. Yes, she did bite the lady riding the bike. She got the lady on her ankle and as soon as I called her back to me, she came back. The bite was not serious and I could’ve done worse scraping up against a nail in the shop. Unfortunately, this lady called her husband to come pick her up and when he discovered Honey was a pit bull, the entire world ended. He did call animal services and Honey had to spend 10 days in quarantine.

Unfortunately, this is not the end. The couple went to the city and filed a dangerous dog affidavit. Our hearing was on September 1^st and despite all the evidence we had proving Honey was not dangerous, she was still deemed dangerous due to the fact that she attacked unprovoked. We are in the process of appealing this decision but this is just the beginning of a very long process.

We ask for all the prayers and support you can give. Thank you to those who have already helped and are continuing to help. Your help has been greatly appreciated and we cannot thank you enough. Those of you who know my dog know that the two years prior to us having her were more than likely filled with abuse. Since she has been with us, she has shown us nothing but love.

Knowing the bad name and discrimination that pit bulls receive, we have always taken great care in socializing our dogs, providing a secure backyard for our dogs, and providing a safe neighborhood for those around us. This truly was an isolated incident for Honey. Honey has passed both beginner and intermediate training, in the presence of other dogs and people.  Continued prayers and support are greatly appreciated.

There is currently a fundraiser being held to help with legal expenses to give Honey the best chance of staying alive.  If you would like to donate, please click here

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