Hope (Parker County sheriff's office)
Hope, the dog found brutally tortured in Texas last week, has a new home. According to the Parker County sheriff's office, the pug mix has been adopted by the family whose ranch she was first spotted wandering on.
Charlie and Kit Moncrief have agreed to adopt Hope, who continues to recover from what the Dallas Morning News described as "one of the worst cases of animal cruelty ever reported in the county." Hope was found dehydrated, her mouth sealed shut with electrical tape and her tongue protruding. She had five large cuts that took more than 100 stitches to close.
"I have known the Moncrief family for many, many years," Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler said in an emailed statement to Yahoo News. "I can't think of a better family for Hope to belong to. She will think she is in heaven at her new home with her new family."
Veterinarians at Bowie Drive Animal Hospital say that Hope, who is estimated to be between 3 and 4 years old, will make a full recovery, though she may need part of her tongue removed.
Hope's story, coming the same week as a dog was put to sleep in Northern Ireland for looking like a pit bull, garnered worldwide media attention—and more than $35,000 offered for information leading to an arrest in the case.
Fowler said his office has investigated several leads but is still seeking the suspect or suspects involved.
"This is the bottom line," Fowler added. "If they will torture a defenseless creature, what else are they capable of? We need to find the person(s) responsible for this."
Meanwhile, the story of Lennox, the dog who was euthanized in Belfast, continues to spark outrage. A Facebook group is urging residents to boycott the Belfast City Council for its killing of Lennox, and sent a letter to U.K. media outlets demanding an investigation.
A similar campaign was launched on Change.org.
The petitions follow Victoria Stilwell, host of "It's Me or the Dog," who claims she was threatened by members of the city council.