The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
Phone: 301-264-3147
Email: [email protected]
P.O. Box 651
Mount Savage, MD 21545
Related links
* Read a bit about Ducky's first few days on the loose
* Visit Ducky's Facebook page
Ducky still set for Ark
of Hope rescue for rehab
* Combs: 'He already seems grateful'
* Search for dog's original owner continues
By Kevin Spradlin
PhDispatch.com
MOUNT SAVAGE, April 3 -- Despite biting an animal control officer, the dog widely known as "Ducky" still seems to be headed to a bit of R-and-R at Ark of Hope Rescue, operated by Dianne Care in Oldtown.
Dick DeVore, who oversees the day-to-day operations at the Allegany County Animal Shelter - at least until new shelter manager Karl A. Brubaker begins work April 4 - said the dog will be held for 10 days at Western Maryland Animal Hospital in lower LaVale.
While there, he'll be quarantined. More importantly, said Tonya Combs, veterinary technician at the LaVale facility, is that the dog will be introduced into a routine that includes regular mealtimes and a shelter over its head.
The dog "already seems grateful" for being rescued, Combs said late Sunday morning.
After about 10 days' time, the dog is expected to be transferred to the care of Ark of Hope Rescue.
"There are a lot of variables that come into play," DeVore said. "Our goal is just to get him into an environment where he can rehabilitate and (be) placed into a good home."
Officials originally thought the dog's real name might be "Alex" and circulated it to volunteer searchers in hopes the dog might respond to that name. At some point, another possibility became "Lone Ranger."
"At this point in time, I don't know if either of those are correct," DeVore said, but "the name 'Ducky' certainly has seemed to stick."
Meanwhile, the Allegany County Animal Control division, in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies, is continuing the search to find the dog's original owners and, if possible, the two men who allegedly dumped Ducky from a pick-up truck along state Route 36 last week.
In the meantime, DeVore said he can - at least for a moment - sit back and be thankful for the "incredible community support" that brought assistance and well-wishers from up and down the east coast and beyond.
"Once again, the citizens of this county have risen to the challenge," DeVore said. "For the 20-some years I have been involved with emergency services, they have never let me down. The credit goes to the volunteers."
Authorities are hoping to limit the flood of phone calls to Western Maryland Animal Hospital. Instead, questions about adopting Ducky or concerns about his general welfare should be directed to Care at Ark of Hope Rescue. The number is 301-478-3300.
Dog named Ducky found safe in Coney
Despite biting animal control officer, officials have "no intention" of putting him down
Update 9 p.m. with comments from Dick DeVore
By Kevin Spradlin
PhDispatch.com
LAVALE, April 3 -- The search is over for the lost dog that captivated hearts and minds and dominated social networking pages for the past week.
After an exhausting, intensive week-long search of some of the area's most challenging terrain, the dog formerly on the loose with duct tape wrapped around its muzzle - affectionately nicknamed "Ducky" - was found in Lonaconing Sunday morning.
Oddly enough, a homeowner called Allegany County Animal Control and said the dog was on her front porch. This time, the dog made no attempt to escape capture.
The search, which started a week ago today after two fishermen reported seeing a pick-up truck stop along state Route 36 near Barrelville in northwestern Allegany County. Over the next five days, Ducky was seen on multiple occasions mostly along route 36 between Corriganville and Barrelville. Sometime Friday and Saturday, he was reportedly seen alond U.S. Route 40 near Little Savage Mountain.
Late Sunday morning, though, the primary concern was that of Ducky's medical condition. A county animal control officer left the animal at Western Maryland Animal Hospital. Staff there, led by Dr. John T. Fox, evaluated Ducky and placed him in a private cage.
Although "he's not really emaciated, he could use a good meal," said Tonya Combs,a veterinary technician at Western Maryland Animal Hospital.
However, there is caution in feeding him too much too soon.
"We don't want to overdo it," she said as Ducky had access to a bowl of nutritional food and ice-cooled water.
Medically, he checked out fine overall. Combs said he has some intestinal parasites but no fever and "no neurological symptoms" reflecting rabies.
"We have no idea his history, if he's ever been vaccinated," Combs said.
The rabies issue could prove important. Originally, the county's plan after the dog's capture was to have him treated by Fox and then transferred to the Ark of Hope Rescue operated by Dianne Care in Oldtown.
That won't happen now - at least for a little while. Ducky reportedly bit a county animal control officer before being brought to Western Maryland Animal Hospital.
Combs dismissed the encounter as being "probably from initial contact" with a human after the dog was on his own for a week.
"Somebody accidentally got bit," Combs figured.
She said the dog didn't appear to show any sign of aggression.
"If he was really more of an aggressive dog, he would never, ever lose (eye) contact with us right now," Combs said as she looked over the dog with three others nearby.
Combs assessed that the dog was "nervous" and afraid of humans.
"A human did this to him," she said of the duct tape. "he does not trust anybody. There's dogs that are aggressive because they mean to bite you. He doesn't lunge at me. He doesn't show his teeth. We had to get that tape off (and) we didn't sedate him."
So far, it seemed Ducky isn't like that, she said, but "he's scared."
Dick DeVore, in charge of the county animal shelter's day-to-day operations since former manager Camille Carrico resigned under pressure in December, seemed to agree.
"I'm assuming the dog's reacting out of fear," DeVore said. "We have no intention of euthanizing that animal."
DeVore described the bite as "very superficial" but noted "it is enough to warrant going through the quarantine."
Without the dog's medical history, it's the prudent thing to do, DeVore said.
Ducky will remain at Western Maryland Animal Hospital for at least 10 days - mandatory after a confirmed bite.
Two charged in Ducky case
* Both men released late Sunday after posting $3,500 bond
By Kevin Spradlin
PhDispatch.com
MOUNT SAVAGE, April 3 -- Two Allegany County men each were charged with six animal cruelty offense associated with the week-long search and Sunday's rescue of a dog wandering well over 15 miles from first sight to capture.
The Allegany County Bureau of Police reported that Ricky Allen Adams, 25, of Cumberland, and Frederick Newton Lease, 27, of Mount Savage, were arrested Sunday night. The two men are each being held on $3,500 bond at the Allegany County Detention Center. <update, 11:20 p.m.> Both men posted bond and were released.
It's unconfirmed whether either man owned the dog, but Bureau of Police Chief J. Robert Dick said there's a bit of confusion as the dog "may have lived with one guy for a while."
In addition, "we have somebody who claims they own the dog," Dick said.
Dick said his agency applied for Maryland District Court arrest warrants for the two men late Sunday afternoon after probable cause had been established sufficient to charge each man with several counts of cruelty to animals.
"This is a very disturbing incident that should never have happened," Dick said.
View Ducky in a larger map
Ducky's journey