Monday, October 15, 2007, 6:01 PM 
$5K reward offered in case of puppy burned in Paterson
by Brian T. Murray
The city of Paterson and animal welfare activists are searching for the culprit who burned a 3-month-old puppy that was found wandering in city traffic earlier today.
Rewards totaling $5,000 are being offered, and donations are being sought to pay for skin grafting planned for the young beagle. The frightened animal was found about 2 p.m. on Getty Avenue near the Food Basics store, where a motorist stopped and picked up the dog.
"The dog's skin was literally hanging off. It's only three months old, and it was in the middle of the street," said John DeCando, the city's chief animal control officer.
"It looks like a chemical burn, like someone poured something on the puppy. It could also have been scalding hot water. It was just left there, and if it hadn't been picked up, it would have died," he added.
After the motorist called the animal control office, the dog was taken to Blue Cross Animal Hospital, a Paterson facility run by veterinarian Paul Sova. The burns, which cover the animal's back, side and some of its face, are so severe they require more specialized attention.
A skin-grafting operation is being arranged for Tuesday by Marge Kayne, president of the animal welfare group known as Save the Animal Rescue Team II or START II, DeCando said.
"This is a life-threatening situation. It would have been dead if it wasn't found, and this is really one of the worst cases of animal abuse I've seen in my 31 years," DeCando said.
The Humane Society of the United States has offered a $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for injuring the dog. START II is offering to match that reward.
DeCando said anyone willing to assist the dog may contact START at (201) 797-8861. Anyone with information on those responsible for burning the puppy may reach DeCando at (973) 881-3640. "We are determined to find out who did this," he said.
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