Published: January 03, 2009 11:02 pm      

Ark of Hope aids animals

Dianne Care, director of Ark of Hope, said her mission is to first help the animals heal, then find adoptive homes for them.

OLDTOWN — The dog treat fell out of Chance’s mouth twice before he got a firm hold and chomped it to bits, tail wagging wildly.

A shotgun blast to his face five months ago took teeth and chunks of flesh from his upper and lower lips, and the hole in the right side of his mouth makes eating a little tricky.

But Chance, a 2-year-old black Labrador retriever, has adapted.

“Bits of food will drop from the hole,” said Dianne Care, director of Ark of Hope Animal Rescue, where the dog has been recuperating after four surgeries and is now ready for adoption.

“When he’s done, he’ll vacuum it up with his tongue. He doesn’t miss a crumb.”

Care plans to take Chance with her to Garrett County District Court in February to face the man accused of shooting him last summer.

Police say Raymond Russell Wilson, 60, of Finzel, shot Chance, a stray, once in the face on Aug. 5, just after next door neighbors had been playing with the dog.

Charged with one count of animal cruelty, Wilson faces a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted.

Attempts to contact Wilson were unsuccessful.

“l want the judge to see that the dog lost teeth, he has a hole here, that his lip on this side goes up,” said Care, who plans to ask permission from Garrett County officials to bring Chance into the courtroom.

Government offices were closed Thursday and Friday for the New Year’s holiday and no one was available to comment.

“I want the judge to realize that this wasn’t a mean dog that went to attack,” Care said. “He is a happy, wonderful, friendly dog.”

Animal cruelty is a misdemeanor in Maryland, and though Care has seen a multitude of abuses, convictions for the crime aren’t common, she said.

She started the Ark of Hope more than a decade ago, after people started leaving abused animals at her property, where she’d begun boarding animals in 1992. Anywhere from six to 20 dogs are in rescue at one time.

On Friday, two men dropped off a beagle mix they’d found.

“He’s very skinny, very scared, his feet are bleeding,” Care said after seeing the dog for the first time. “He looks like he belonged to somebody.”

Care helps the animals heal, then finds adoptive homes for them.

Chance is ready for a family.

“He’s neutered, up to date on all his shots,” said Care. Vet bills totaled $4,000, but donations have whittled the balance down to $1,000.

Tax-deductible donations may be sent to the Ark of Hope Animal Rescue, 13400 Arctic Ridge Lane, Oldtown, MD 21555. If you want your donation to help pay the remaining $1,000 of Chance’s veterinary bill, write his name in the check’s memo area.

“It’s terrible, emotionally, to think that there are actually humans in the world who could do this to a defenseless animal,” Care said.

Wilson’s trial is scheduled for Feb. 25.

For information about adopting an abused or neglected animal, call (301) 478-3300, or go to www.arkofhoperescue.8m.com.

Contact Kristin Harty at kharty@times-news.com.