CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC/Gray News) – A dog whose animal cruelty case touched hearts when she was found a decade ago with her muzzle wrapped in electrical tape so tight it cut off circulation to part of her tongue has died, WCSC reports.
Caitlyn, an 11-year-old Staffordshire terrier mix, died Sunday after a brief bout of cancer, according to a Facebook post by the Charleston Animal Society.
“She suddenly became ill in the last week and was diagnosed with an advanced and aggressive cancer. As was her nature, she fought until the end,” read the post, quoting the family who adopted the dog after the animal cruelty case ended.
Caitlyn was about a year-and-a-half-old when she was found in May 2015 wandering the streets in North Charleston, South Carolina, with electrical tape wrapped around her muzzle. The tape was wrapped so tightly that her tongue had become trapped between her teeth, cutting off circulation.
At the time she was found, veterinarians said she would soon have died of starvation if she had not been brought in.
Caitlyn’s case gained global attention as posts on social media estimated treatment could cost into the thousands. Donations came in for the Charleston Animal Society’s “Toby’s Medical Fund,” named for a dog someone threw chemicals on because of excessive barking, which helped pay for her treatment.
Caitlyn survived and healed better than expected. Dr. Henri Bianucci of Veterinary Specialty Care in Mount Pleasant called her recovery “really amazing.”
Among the procedures Caitlyn’s recovery required were plastic surgery to repair damage to her cheek, multiple laser surgeries to heal facial scars, surgery on a salivary gland that was damaged and multiple hyperbaric oxygen treatments, said Charleston Animal Society spokesperson Kay Hyman in 2015.
Caitlyn’s original owner had taken part in a free spay/neuter event held by the animal shelter, which meant staffers had some initial information about the dog, including her age at the time she was brought in. From there, investigators were able to reach the family that had brought her in for the spay procedure, who told them they had sold the dog to a different owner.
That owner was later accused of taping her muzzle, allegedly because the dog would not stop barking. He was charged and later sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of animal cruelty.
Caitlyn thrived in her new life, first with foster families and then with her “forever home.” In 2018, she was officially adopted by the lead prosecutor in her case, Ted Corvey III, who was an assistant solicitor with the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office at the time.
The family who adopted Caitlyn called her “a tremendous blessing and a gift” they cherished and loved every day.
“We remain very proud of the work done on her case and the ongoing work we are involved in related to animal welfare and combating cruelty,” read the Facebook post announcing her death. “However, as proud as we are of bringing justice to her, what we are proudest of is being her family and having had her in our lives for as long we did.”
In the wake of Caitlyn’s death, Charleston Animal Society President and CEO Joe Elmore said her legacy will continue, and her situation inspired the animal shelter to start a fund called Caitlyn’s Anti-Cruelty Fund.
“Hopefully, we’ll see a day where there is no more animal cruelty, but the fund is there. We will continue to assist medically with other animal cruelty cases. We’ll continue to invest in the full prosecution of animal abusers in the name of Caitlyn,” Elmore said.
He added Caitlyn’s global impact will never be forgotten, and she has left a paw print on the hearts of millions.
“Caitlyn’s legacy will continue to live on and inspire all of us to do better,” Elmore said. “When there is cruelty to any animal, each of us must do something to stop it.”
The animal society will hold a candelight vigil to remember Caitlyn and all victims of cruelty at its campus on Feb. 2.
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