DUNNING — A senior dog that was stabbed multiple times while on a walk will have a second chance at life after hundreds of people donated to his vet bills.

On Monday, a 15-year-old girl and her father were walking their chihuahua, Bebe, in the 6600 block of West Irving Park Road when a woman approached them and stabbed the dog with a sharp object, police said.

The girl, who was walking Bebe, ran away but the offender chased her. The woman was eventually detained by the girl’s father and taken into custody by responding officers, police said.

Jeanette Olivo, 61, who lives a few blocks away, was charged with one felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals and a misdemeanor count of aggravated assault by a deadly weapon, police said.

Bail for Olivo was set at $25,000 and she cannot have any contact with the victims or live with any animals once released, said Cook County State’s Attorney spokesperson Tantra Simonton. She was still in jail as of Wednesday morning, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office inmate locator.

Since Monday, the Garrido Stray Rescue Foundation has raised $9,395 from over 250 people worried about Bebe — which will cover the entire cost of Bebe’s surgery and vet bills, said founder John Garrido.

“To be able to raise this kind of money right after the holiday reminds me of the generosity of people,” Garrido said.

Bebe was stabbed multiple times without reason and needed surgery to repair a puncture to his diaphragm, Garrido said.

Bebe’s thorax was also pieced but the surgeon decided the wound would be best to avoid surgery for now, as it may cause more trauma and delay healing, the foundation said.

The vet bill was set to cost around $9,000 but because the family did not have the money, they considered putting the dog down, Garrido said.

“There was no way we [could] let that happen,” he said.

The family, who did not return requests for comment, plan to pick up Bebe from the vet Wednesday after he spent three days there receiving care, Garrido said.

Bebe is doing better and is expected to make a full recovery, he said.

“We met the need to cover this bill,” Garrido said. “Anything extra will go to future visits [for Bebe] and to other dogs.”

People can donate to the foundation online or on Facebook.

Garrido is grateful for the support and knows the family is, too. Although what happened to Bebe is terrible, the kindness of people is something to celebrate, he said.

“Over 200 people stepped up to assist,” he said. “For every bad person, there are 200 people out there to come to the assistance of this girl and her dog.”

Author :Ariel Parrella-Aureli

Source Url :https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/12/28/hundreds-step-up-to-help-cover-vet-bill-for-chihuahua-stabbed-in-dunning/