Dog Found in Creek Has Back Surgery

The crippled mutt named Hope was recovering Thursday from surgery to repair her broken back as the investigation continued into reports that dogs were flung off Compton Creek bridges in the area from which she was rescued.

Hope’s chances of walking again remained slim after a four-hour surgery that Dr. Stephen Hanson performed for free at the VCA-West L.A. animal hospital, a spokeswoman said.

But a solution may rest with the nonprofit group Noah’s Bark, which today will officially adopt Hope.

“If Hope never does walk again, we’ll hook her up with a cart,” said Lila Hemenway, founder of Noah’s, which places orphaned dogs with adoptive owners each Saturday at a Petco in Torrance. “She’s got a second chance.”

Updates of her progress will be put on the group’s Web site (https://www.noahsbark.org), and it has been besieged already with donations and volunteers offering to help with Hope’s long-term care. Two numbers for the group are (310) 391-5081 and (310) 608-4708.

A reward fund was started for information leading to the arrest of anyone who has thrown dogs from the bridges, although authorities have no proof that such acts occurred.

On Thursday, 10 animal control officers again searched Compton Creek for injured animals. They recovered 19 animals, but only three dehydrated dogs were alive. They were transferred to the county’s Downey animal shelter. Carcasses of seven dogs, four cats and five pigeons were found along the creek, none showing signs of abuse.