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VIDEO WBIR-TV KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE Photo: Panda
The Monroe County Saint Bernard that apparently gnawed off her own leg to escape neglect is on her way to a quick recovery.
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Just two weeks ago, investigators say Panda was in excruciating pain, battling a terrible infection in a leg she gnawed off herself.
Now, they say she's like a different dog.
On Monday afternoon, Panda visited the Dog Days Canine Playschool to get a little TLC. Panda was moving much more quickly on her three remaining legs than she was just one week earlier.
"Her new home better understand you're going to need roller skates," said said Beth Weaver, who is fostering Panda and runs Smokey Mountain Saint Bernard Rescue. "I mean, she is constantly wanting to go."
Weaver is helping to ready Panda for new adoptive parents after what she calls one of the worst animal cruelty cases she's seen.
Investigators say sometime last month, Panda's leg got tangled in her chain, and she eventually gnawed off her own leg to escape. She went weeks without medical attention, developing a serious infection.
Finally, a tip led investigators to her home, where they confiscated her and took her to a vet, who amputated the rest of her leg.
Since then, the 3-year-old St. Bernard has moved quickly toward her new life.
"She learned how to eat a rawhide bone. She never knew what that was. She never knew what a milkbone biscuit was, and now, she's getting all that attention. She's loving to meet people. She's gaining weight like crazy, and we're really happy with that," Weaver said.
Panda's story has made headlines across the country.
Weaver says she's getting about 25 phone calls a day, plus another 75 e-mails, from people wanting to adopt Panda. One person even contacted her from Las Vegas.
She admits it won't be easy to see Panda go.
"I am attached to Miss Panda, I won't lie about that," she said. "If I leave the room, Panda howls and whines and cries. If I go outside, she barks, she's still attached to Mama right now. Of course, she needs to learn there's another mama, too."
Also finding a new home will be Panda's brother, Pete. After Panda's former owner was charged with animal cruelty, he gave up the rest of his dogs, including Pete.
On Monday, groomers at Dog Days gave him a bath, likely the first one in his three years of life, they said.
Melinda Howard, who owns K9 Camp in Knoxville, also has offered to give Pete free training.
In about two to three weeks, both he and Panda will be ready for new homes.
"(Panda's) personality is the tops, I mean, we've not see her show any signs of aggression toward the dogs, the other cats or other people, she just takes them in stride now. She's totally forgiven everybody, and she's ready to start her new life," Weaver said.
If you'd like to meet Panda, you can stop by Dog Days Canine Playschool at the corner of North Campbell Station Road and Kingston Pike between noon and 3 p.m. this Saturday.
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