STARKVILLE, miss. (WTVA) – Mississippi State University Veterinary School takes care of Buddy, a Tate County dog who had severe burns on his face.
He was injured in alleged torture.
Buddy is cared for by Tyler McMurray (picture) and the staff at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine. Photo by Tom Thompson
Buddy, a dog who was cremated in Tate County, was pictured prior to being injured. Photo submitted
Buddy arrived at MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine on Monday.
“Buddy’s vital signs are good, but like any burn patient, this is the reason for a high mountain to climb,” said Dr. Elizabeth Swanson, Associate Professor and Veterinarian. “We make sure that he feels comfortable, changes his bandages and copes with any problems that arise. It can take several days for burns to fully manifest. Hence, we are still assessing the full extent of the damage. “
According to an announcement by MSU on Thursday, Buddy is in a good mood – he eats, wags his tail and kisses everyone he can.
“We have been to wound debridement twice with him and plan to have his first skin graft with fish skin from North Atlantic cod from Iceland courtesy of KerecisVet® on Friday. More procedures will follow,” said Swanson. “The main concern will be to make sure he doesn’t develop an infection. In this situation, things can change quickly and we do everything we can to keep the problems under control and to take care of them in the best possible way. “
Sid Salter, MSU’s chief communications officer, warned us how serious Buddy’s condition is.
“We want to be honest about what we tell the public about it, and Buddy has a long way to go,” he said.
The Tunica Humane Society Facebook page has shared Buddy’s story and offers updates. Open this link to participate.
A child confessed to setting the dog on fire, WMC-TV reported in Memphis, Tennessee. However, state law does not allow children under the age of 12 to be prosecuted.
Note: The video was added at 6:05 pm
