On November 24, 2001, custody was awarded to the SPCA.
Brett Merrick has been voluntarily attending anger management classes.
The judge ruled that he must:
1) continue the classes
2) submit to random drug testing
3) give 100 hours of community service though NOT with animals
4) pay restitution for medical services for Sydney
5) never own an animal while a resident of Wake County
6) complete a 4-6 month sentence suspended
7) serve 15 days in jail
Sydney, a two-year-old Rottweiler-Beagle mix, continues to improve at the
SPCA of Wake County. She is recovering from a broken jaw and other injuries.
Sydney was neglected, beaten and THEN, her guardian put a bag over her head and jumped on it. Brett Merrick of Garner, North Carolina is being charged with a Class I Felony. However, since he has no previous record, he may not be strongly penalized for this act. Please write letters of support to District Attorney, Ned Mangum. The DA is a dog owner and pet lover and wants to prosecute Brett Merrick to the fullest extent of the law. So, we don't need to fight the DA on this, because he is definitely on our side.
Sydney's story is below.
District Attorney's Office
316 Fayetteville St. Mall
Raleigh, N.C. 27602
Phone: 919-755-4117
Fax: 919-715-9722
Please send your donations to:
SPCA of Wake County
219-B Garner Business Court
Garner, NC 27529
Make your check payable to the SPCA of Wake County and write "Animal Cruelty Fund" in the memo line.
The SPCA is working with Garner Animal Control and the Raleigh District Attorney to prosecute the man charged with beating Sydney.
Her Story Will Break Your Heart.
Sydney is an adorable 2-year-old female Rottweiler-Beagle mix who was severely beaten by her owner last Saturday night. She suffered two facial fractures -- one to her jaw and the other to her cheekbone. She also has a bottle cap lodged in her stomach which must be removed before it causes any internal damage. The SPCA now has custody of Sydney and is overseeing her veterinary medical care. She is on pain medication and may need her broken jaw wired together. You can also read about Sydney on the WRALTV 5 website. Sydney is an adorable 2-year-old female Rottweiler-Beagle mix who was severely beaten by her owner last Saturday night. She suffered two facial fractures -- one to her jaw and the other to her cheekbone. She also has a bottle cap lodged in her stomach which must be removed before it causes any internal damage. The SPCA now has custody of Sydney and is overseeing her veterinary medical care. She is on pain medication and may need her broken jaw wired together. You can also read about Sydney on the WRALTV 5 website.
Quite possibly, this is the first time in her life that she has people that care about her. Thank you for your generous donations to help take care of Sydney. She is a very sweet dog who deserves a second chance at life. Your support has given her that chance.
Medical Update:
On Wednesday 10/2, the veterinarian removed three objects from Sydney's stomach: a Budweiser bottle cap, a piece of hard plastic and part of a plastic shopping bag. If these objects were left in place, the bottle cap could have seriously cut Sydney's stomach and the plastic objects could have caused an obstruction in her intestines. Sydney possibly ingested these items while eating out of the garbage.
The veterinarian decided against wiring Sydney's broken jaw together. Since the two broken bones in Sydney's face (one cheek bone and one jaw bone) have remained aligned with the rest of the bone, the best course of action will be to watch her closely for the next month, keep her calm and only feed her very soft food. Sydney's appetite is very good, in fact she is ravenous and gulps down food as if she might never be fed again. She is walking around a little bit and wagging her tail. She is a little fearful of people, which is to be expected, but she exhibits her fear in a non-aggressive way. If you walk up to her she shows her belly as a sign of submission.
On Thursday, October 4, the SPCA will bring Sydney to the Adoption Center. Sydney will then go into temporary foster care with a shelter employee where she will have the chance to heal her emotional wounds as well as her broken bones. Sydney will remain on pain medication for a while.
Today, Sydney was discharged from the pet hospital! A shelter employee transported Sydney back to the SPCA Adoption Center where she snuggled into a big, soft blanket in her kennel. Another shelter worker gave Sydney a nice warm bath, which made Sydney's coat soft and smooth.
The physical signs of Sydney's abuse are still evident. She has cuts and bruises on the back of her neck and the right side of her face is still slightly swollen from the broken bones in her cheek and jaw. The emotional signs of Sydney's abuse are just as obvious. Sydney bows her head low to the ground when approached and she cowers as if expecting to be hit. However, she is hungry for attention and with a few kind words and a scratch on her belly, Sydney will be your best friend. She wags her tail now. Not all the time like most dogs, but it is obvious she has moments of pure happiness. The big surprise is that Sydney will sit on command!
Sydney grew fond of a squeaky-toy at the shelter, so it was packed along with her pain medications and sent with her to her foster home. An SPCA employee is caring for Sydney during her month of rehabilitation. Care for Sydney will include a strict diet of only soft food to allow her broken jaw to heal, pain medication every 12 hours, and a family to help Sydney realize that people are supposed to be caregivers, not abusers.
Tonight is the first night that Sydney is spending in a home where she is cared for and loved. Thank you to all her supporters. We will keep you posted on her progress.
Web Site
Sydney suffered fractures to her jawbone. She was infested with fleas, and had parasites and foreign objects in her stomach.
The dog, a Rottweiler-Beagle mix, is recovering from a broken jaw and other injuries.
Her owner, Brett Merrick of Garner, is charged with animal cruelty after witnesses say he stomped on the dog's head last Saturday.
The SPCA hopes to gain custody so it can find Sydney a good home. A volunteer will be providing foster care for her as she continues to improve.
