INWOOD — Uptown dog lovers are working feverishly to find a new home for an abandoned pit bull that was discovered chained outside a popular Dyckman Street restaurant early Thanksgiving morning.
The dog, which rescuers named Inwood Sandy, was discovered shaking and cowering on the street during the early morning hours on Thursday, Nov. 24.
The brindled pit bull had lacerations above her right eye and neck and appeared to have recently given birth at least once although she is only approximately one year old.
Within hours of finding the dog, a network of plugged-in dog lovers in Upper Manhattan found her a foster home in the residential building above Papasito restaurant, with Inwood resident Katie Weaver and her several cats.
The group is now trying to find Sandy a "forever home," through Facebook and other channels.
Laura Simpson, an Inwood dog lover helping find Sandy a home, said despite the trauma the dog recently experienced, the pit bull was great with people, other dogs and cats.
“She’s rebounded so well considering what she went through,” Simpson told DNAinfo Wednesday. “She’s an absolute gem, she couldn’t be any sweeter.”
She said Sandy was not the first abandoned pit bull she and her friends had found in the area and lamented abusive treatment of pit bulls she has seen in Upper Manhattan.
"It’s heart breaking to see how many we can’t save," Simpson said.
Although Sandy had been through a rough time, judging by the cuts on her body, she had clearly lived with someone before as she is completely house-trained, according to Simpson.
“I know pit bulls get a bad reputation,” she said, “but this one is a complete mush. I hope we can find her a home soon.”
Since Sandy was found last week she has attracted a following, with locals volunteering to pitch in with dog walking, purchasing food and getting Sandy to a veterinarian for a check-up. She has an appointment to be vaccinated and spayed on Sunday.
“She's a doll, really.... very sweet and amazingly friendly to all people and animals!!!,” reads an email posted on Inwoof, an online local dog group, from Leonard Siegfried, the Inwood resident who found her on Thanksgiving. “Truly a diamond (not so) in the rough!!”
Those interested in adopting or fostering Sandy can contact Laura Simpson at 917-939-7507 or Katie Weaver at 212-567-9688.
