Abandoned Pit Bull Puppy To Have Front Legs Amputated, Be Fitted With Prosthetics

LOMA LINDA (CBSLA.com) — A pit bull puppy abandoned near an out-of-business market in Coachella will be taken to a specialized veterinary hospital in Loma Linda Thursday, where his front legs will likely be amputated.

The 6-month-old puppy, nicknamed Cooper by shelter employees, was discovered last week near the intersection of Avenue 53 and Tyler Street by Alejandro Felix, who was driving home from work.

The black-and-white puppy had been abandoned in a pile of garbage. Felix, who only spotted the dog because its eyes were reflected in the car's headlights, drove back to Cooper with some food, water and a blanket and contacted Riverside County Animal Services, whose officers searched for the dog first thing that morning.

"He was camouflaged in all the other garbage," Animal Control Officer Jose Fernandez said. "From a distance, he would have looked like a discarded towel."

A veterinarian with Riverside County Animal Services said the injury's location on the dog's two front legs was unusual and "suspicious of non-accidental injury."

"The dog is eating and drinking real well -- but unfortunately, he's got some real major problems here," Loma Linda Animal Hospital Dr. Leonard Sigdestad said.

Veterinarians at Loma Linda Animal Hospital are giving the puppy pain medication and antibiotics. The seriously injured puppy will likely need both front limbs amputated, and an Idaho-based animal rescue group has already offered to pitch in for prosthetics after the operation.

"This baby is going to have two legs and she'll have a wheelchair and she'll have a good life," Paws Without Borders' Terri Raymond said.