HELP FIND THIS DOG

Mystery swirls around injured pooch
Humane Society thinks she's stolen

BY JOHN A. TORRES • FLORIDA TODAY • November 10, 2008

Jenna is two years old, has big brown eyes and still drools all over her food.
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But she has been away from her family for several weeks and may even have been abducted to help train killer dogs. In fact, her real name is not Jenna at all.

She is a Catahoula leopard hound mix found in the Fellsmere area limping, scarred and scared.

Now Vero Beach Humane Society officials are hoping to locate the veterinarian whose unique operation helped give this dog her day.

The pooch was found limping in an area notorious for dog fighting, officials said. But after reviewing X-rays, shelter veterinarian Dr. Elizabeth Bybee recognized the pooch had previously undergone extensive -- and expensive -- lifesaving surgery.

"The surgery would have cost her family several thousand dollars," Bybee said. "It's clear that someone, or some family, really loved her."

Staffers have gotten attached as well, nicknaming the canine Jenna.

After spending a few weeks trying to find the dog's owner, the emphasis is now to try and locate the vet who performed the specialized surgery. Bybee said the procedure was so unique to the animal that any vet would remember performing the operation.

Details of the operation are being kept secret to ensure she is returned to the right family.

Humane Society officials speculate the dog may have been stolen and then used as practice for the fighting dogs.

"She's too gentle to have been used as a fighting dog but our fear is that she may have been used as what's called a bait dog," said Janet Winikoff, director of education at the Humane Society of Vero Beach.

Officials say that since there is a possibility the dog was stolen, the search may expand beyond Central Florida.

"We are trying to do everything possible to reunite Jenna with her family," said Maria Ramirez, the shelter's animal care manager.

Contact Torres at 242-3649 or jtorres@floridatoday.com.