According to court records, a woman called the animal hospital because her dog was breathing, but unresponsive to stimuli. The woman and her boyfriend, Snyder, brought the puppy to the animal hospital at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, court records state.
Hospital staff saw the puppy was unresponsive and immediately took it for emergency treatment.
While diagnostic X-rays were being performed, the puppy went into cardiac arrest, court records state. CPR was performed and the puppy was resuscitated.
A veterinarian at the animal hospital observed the puppy was suffering from severe head trauma and two broken legs (one humor and one femur), court records state. The veterinarian advised authorities the injuries were "consistent with damage caused by blunt force trauma," court records state.
Another veterinarian, animal hospital owner and head veterinarian Dr. Shawn Wilson, advised Burgan that the puppy's injuries were consistent with injuries Wilson has seen with dogs struck by vehicles, court records state. Wilson told Burgan that extreme force would be needed to cause such "devastating injuries."
There was concern the puppy would not survive through Tuesday night, court records state.
Mowery said Wednesday afternoon that the puppy responded to stimuli Tuesday night and had started wagging its tail a little.
According to court records, Snyder's girlfriend told Burgan she got a call from Snyder around 11 a.m. saying their dog was limping after coming inside their Hagerstown home from playing in the yard. When she got home from work around 5:30 p.m., she tried to rouse the puppy and the Dalmatian was unresponsive, so she contacted the animal hospital.
Mowery said Thursday morning that the girlfriend is not being charged.
The girlfriend told the officer that Snyder admitted on the way to the hospital to striking the puppy pretty hard, court records state.
Snyder told Burgan the puppy defecated near his son's play area around 11 a.m., court records state. Snyder "began to discipline the puppy by pushing her nose into the feces and struck her on the rear while doing so. Snyder admitted that he struck the puppy very hard and probably struck the dog too hard," court records state. Snyder also told the officer he wasn't trying to be malicious by hitting the dog, only trying to discipline it.
During Wednesday's bond hearing, Assistant State's Attorney Michelle Flores said the puppy was left for five hours without treatment.
Flores said Snyder was on probation for driving under the influence and was watching the couple's young child and the puppy on Tuesday.
If Snyder can do such injuries to the puppy, then he's a danger to the child as well, Flores argued in requesting that Snyder continue to be held without bond.
Assistant Public Defender Regine Lotlikar told Finan that it's a "stretch" for Flores to say the child — or the woman — is in danger.
The couple's child is younger than 2 years old, and Snyder has lived with his partner for four years, Lotlikar said.
The girlfriend told the deputy that Snyder was not abusing her, according to court records.
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