Abused dog rescued at Cole Park

ALAMOSA — Diana Cullens, a San Luis Valley resident, was out for a walk in Cole Park on Feb. 11 when she noticed a small terrier dog curled up by a tree.

Cullens was concerned as the temperature was only 15 degrees.

When she inspected the little pup, she found it unresponsive, in fact, she thought it might be dead.

Cullens picked her up and could feel her breathing, so she rushed her to the Valley Humane League.

Once in her car, Cullens held the little dog against her body, cranked the heat and drove like a greyhound.

Once at the shelter, staff took the dog straight to the vet to find she had been strangled, beaten, suffered from a concussion and someone had put cigarettes out in her ears.   

The little dog, named Blessing, was treated and sent home with Director of Valley Humane League Diana Hamilton.

Blessing was still unresponsive and there was little hope that she would survive. She could not lift her head or move her legs. She was given food and water throughout the night with a syringe and survived the first crucial night.   

The past two U.S. presidents have put laws in place to punish people who abuse animals during the past decade.

In a rare display of political unity, President Trump in November signed a bipartisan bill that, for the first time, makes acts of animal cruelty a federal crime punishable with fines and up to seven years in prison, according to the New York Times. The bill, called the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, was introduced in the House in 2019 by two Florida lawmakers — Representative Vern Buchanan, a Republican, and Representative Ted Deutch, a Democrat. It expands a 2010 law signed by President Barack Obama that banned videos that show animals being crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled or subjected to other forms of torture.

The Valley Humane League is eager to prosecute Blessing’s abuser.  They are therefore offering a reward for any information that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrator.

Meanwhile, Blessing’s medical bills are accumulating. Anyone interested in helping with  her medical bills can make a donation to the Valley Humane League by:  dropping money or a check off at the shelter, 6414 Co Rd 107 South, Alamosa Colorado 81140, or go to either the Valley Humane League’s Facebook page or to alamosavalleyhumaneleague.org and hit the donate button. 

Any and all contributions are tax deductible.  We will send a receipt. 

The Valley Humane League is a non-profit organization and runs off of donations from kind people.  Thank you in advance if you are able to help with “Blessing’s” cause. We will keep everyone posted as to her progress through Facebook.