Omar, owned by Florence resident Sheena See, is no longer being quarantined, because the owner of the dog that attacked the papillon has come forward. The altercation occurred on Dec. 30, 2017, while the dogs and their owners were out at the Saw Mill Hills Conservation Area in Northampton. SUBMITTED PHOTO
dog owner BBy EMILY CUTTS
@ecutts_HG
NORTHAMPTON — A Florence dog that was attacked by another canine late last month is no longer being quarantined because the owner of the other dog involved in the attack has stepped forward.
Northampton Police Capt. John Cartledge confirmed the good news for Omar, a 10-year-old papillon, Tuesday morning.
Omar’s owner, Sheena See, posted on her Facebook page Sunday night that the dog that attacked Omar on Saturday, Dec. 30, had been located and was up-to-date on all of its vaccinations, including rabies. Its owner also agreed to reimburse See for the cost of treating Omar’s wounds, See said.
“It’s just amazing to me,” See said of the owner’s actions. “It kind of restores my faith in humanity. It’s just a big relief.”
See was out with Omar on Dec. 30 behind a friend’s property on Spring Street at the Saw Mill Hills Conservation Area. Unleashed, Omar wasn’t far away from her when See said she saw three people cross-country skiing with three other unleashed dogs. Two of the dogs greeted Omar before a third “went straight for Omar like a bullet,” See said last week when the Gazette reported on the incident.
Concerned for her dog and his injuries, See rushed Omar to a veterinary hospital without getting information about the other dog from its owner. Omar was placed on a 45-day quarantine as the status of the attacking dog’s rabies vaccination was unknown. Omar was up-to-date on his rabies shots and received a booster vaccine following the incident.
See said Monday that a neighbor down the street did some sleuthing and managed to find the dog’s owner. When contacted by See, the owner said she didn’t know about the incident and was very sorry and offered to pay for the vet bills.
Northampton Animal Control Officer Shayla Howe said the owner of the other dog told her Omar’s attack was the first time an incident of that nature had occurred and that the owner would meet with a behaviorist for her dog.
“I just feel more hopeful, relief and feel so gratified by the fact that this woman wants to do the right thing,” See said. “Everybody has been just so supportive. It’s been amazing. I kind of feel like it’s a little bit of justice in this world where there is so much injustice now.”
The good news even made its way to New York City to See’s husband, who happened to see a friend while attending a show at the Public Theater. As See recounted Monday morning, she said her husband yelled across a crowded lobby to that friend to say that the other dog had been found and Omar’s quarantine would soon be over.
“The whole lobby burst into applause,” See said.
Before Omar’s name was spread far and wide because of his injuries, he was known around town for his stage appearances during the Academy of Music’s Really Big Show. He also has participated in the VINS Dog Show.
“He knows way more people then I do,” See joked last week.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.
