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Donations pour in for Yugo the injured pit bull

1:28 PM Fri, Jan 30, 2009 |
Tatiana Pina    Email

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Yugo has no idea the fuss he stirred up today. He spent part of the day asleep at the East Bay Medical Center getting the bandages changed on his two severely burned legs.

But the people at the East Providence Animal Control Center do.

They spent the day fielding an avalanche of phone calls from people who had learned about Yugo's plight and rescue and wanted to adopt him or make a donation to help with his medical care.

A woman found Yugo Tuesday sitting on the side of the Henderson Bridge near the Providence on ramp. He had two severe burns to his front legs and his ear. His friendly disposition and his wagging tail saved his life when veterinarians were trying to determine whether to repair his wounds and get him adopted.

So many people called the animal control center that the answering machine stopped taking calls and animal controls officers couldn't keep up. The calls began Thursday night and early Friday morning. By 4 p.m. today, there were more than 300 calls from people who included a man who owns a towing company, the wife of a former senator and a councilwoman.

Donations ranged in quantities from $5 to $225 and doggie items --- about $1,500 cash in all. By noon, animal control officers were arranging to reroute calls to City Hall because the calls were overwhelming them.

Animal Control Officer Evan Barlow stood in the small front office of the animal control center answering calls that seemed to come every minute. "He's doing good. He's getting his bandages changed today. The address is 145 Taunton Ave. East Providence Rhode Island, 02914," is a phrase he would repeat all day long for people wanting to make donations.

"When Yugo leaves here he is leaving in a limo I think," Barlow said, referring to the amount of people calling to make donations. He had not had time to tally the amount. About 12 percent of the calls were people who wanted to adopt the brown and white, 80-pound America bull-dog pit-bull mix.

Michelle Giampietro of Bristol peered into the window of the animal control center office and told Evan she didn't have money but she pulled out a book on how to raise pitbulls, a pig bone, dog bowls and clippers for Yugo. "Tell whoever gets Yugo they need a lot of attention and a lot of love. I have three pit bulls ," she said. Her husband A.J. Giampietro, who owns a towing company said, "I'd take Yugo and take him to work with me."

They told Barlow they might be back to see him.
Animal Control Supervisor William Muggle said he had never had such public reaction for any animal before. "I guess it was his disposition."

Defenders of aimals has offered a $1,000 reward for information that would lead to the identification and conviction of the people responsible for Yugo's abuse. Anyone with information can call Defenders at (401) 461-1922 or the animal control center at (401) 435-7675.

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Comments

Jack said:

Great how about some concern and donations for the burned child in Fall River and the dead baby in Newport?

Link | January 30, 2009 3:03 PM
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CJ said:

It wasn't just his disposition, it was the sheer horror of what happened to him. And all he wants to do is love, it truly brings tears to my eyes.
Dogs are amazing, they just want love and they'll look to their abuser for it because that's all they know. Once he's healed, he'll find a caring new home and live a happy life, I'm sure of it.

Link | January 30, 2009 3:26 PM
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Erika said:

All feeling creatures man or animal deserve compassion and help when they are suffering. I am glad Yugo won the doggie lottery and finally will be taken care of by loving people. People who torture animals often turn on other humans. I hope the person responsible for Yugos wounds gets caught and brought to justice. Go Yugo!

Link | January 30, 2009 4:26 PM
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beth said:

Jack, I am a HUGE animal lover...love them more than humans sometimes. I agree with what you said here. I personally think part of the problem is the horrible, disgusting, good for nothing person who did this is still out there able to live his/her life normally. In the case of the dead baby/ abused baby....the criminal who did that to them has been caught, and will most likely live the rest of his life the way he deserves to be. Animals, just like babies, are helpless living creatures who depend on others. Animal or baby, its equally horrible.

Link | January 30, 2009 5:08 PM
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D. Thornton said:

It is a proven fact, ask any psycologist, it starts with abusing animals and leads to harming human beings. I have three dogs and all are rescues from the shelter and had been previously abused. Keep up the good work.

Link | January 30, 2009 7:22 PM
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bl said:

hey Jack how about for once we get to read some heart warming news. not that reading about animal being burnt with 3rd degree burns is heart warming. But the fact that someone took thier time to stop on a busy rood to get this injured, large, stray into her car and get him to an animal hospital. Now good people are giving donations and offering him a home. Just to see his big beautiful eyes, and adorable, happy face on the front page was a welcome reprieve from all the stomach wrenching news we are subjected to daily.
Nice break from all the horrific news we have to read about daily. Like the heart breaking, unspeakable act that was done to the 6 week old baby, and teenage girl in Cranston.

Link | January 31, 2009 12:49 AM
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M said:

Hang in there Yugo! Donate a few dollars to help him out people!

Link | January 31, 2009 5:52 AM
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Island99 said:

Lucky for Yugo someone saw him and had the courage to take control and do something good for him and also,in turn, for people who love animals. WIth all the bad news about jobs, money, child abuse, this kind of story makes everyone feel a little better. Even donating a few dollars or a dog blanket or toy will help and give you a wonderful feeling inside - a little lift to the spirits is always a good thing. Hopefully, Yugo ends up in a loving home and maybe a few other shelter dogs will benefit from his story as well.

Link | January 31, 2009 7:50 AM
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looser said:

To Jack: Sounds like a good idea. I had not heard about either story but think the burned child could use some help.

Why don't you set up a fund and we can get things rolling?

Link | January 31, 2009 7:55 AM
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Joyce said:

When the punishment fits the crime this cruelty will stop.

What is next a child?

Jack no one said they did not care about the baby
this is comment area for this particular item.

Link | February 1, 2009 8:10 PM
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bessie Korth said:


I am so glad that so many people came to Yugo's rescue. I wish our laws were still eye for an eye. Will the abuse get caught- doubt it. Now if we could match the response to other abused animals then maybe just maybe they maybe saved too! I want to say thank you to all the people helping him!

Link | February 2, 2009 7:41 AM
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