KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
December 13, 2020
By Natalie Cook Clark
The 12-year-old pitbull who was shot in the head a year ago, still inspires and serves as an ambassador for animal cruelty. The man accused of the felony crime will stand trial this month.
Photo credit: Katrina Katsarelis
Dog Shot in Face Last December
Last December 21, Clarence was found abandoned at a Katy park. He was pinned up in a small wire kennel with two gunshot wounds to his face. (Read his story from last year.)
Almost one year and four surgeries later, Clarence is living life to the fullest.
“Physically and emotionally, he is fine,” says Karen Maresh, an animal behavioralist who has cared for Clarence since his recovery. “He has a persistent eye infection because of the gunshot wound to his face. He just finished a six-week antibiotic treatment and now is on another for another month.”
Photo credit: Karen Maresh
Wag Again Rescue owns Clarence, and because he has a chronic medical condition, he is not able to be adopted yet.
“I’ve turned in the application though,” says Maresh. “He can’t be adopted but they know he’s my dog.”
Initially the plan was for Clarence to be trained as a therapy dog to help people who have also had extensive head and face injuries.
“We had to pull back on therapy training because of his eye infection and COVID,” says Maresh.
Wag Again Rescue has partnered with Fort Bend County, and Clarence serves as a PR Ambassador for Animal Cruelty.
“He’s in training because he has to be perfectly behaved to go meet with children at schools when the pandemic is over,” says Maresh.
Clarence's Attacker Charged, Faces Court this Month
Six months after he shot Clarence, Timothy Holloway, 32, was arrested and charged with 3rd Degree Felony Cruelty to Non-Livestock Animals. Holloway confessed his crime of extreme animal abuse to authorities. His arrest was the result of teamwork between Constable Wayne Thompson, Fort Bend County Constables Office, Precinct 3 and the Harris County Cruelty Taskforce.
Holloway will have his day in court on December 16. Reports indicate that he will plead guilty.
“We hope to make this a more positive outcome,” says Maresh, who has been working on the investigation. “We want Holloway to work to reimburse Clarence’s medical expenses and talk to youth groups about making better choices.”
Animal cruelty is a felony offense.
“People who do this to animals almost always have a connection to other crimes,” says Constable Wayne Thompson. “We take such cases very seriously.”
“Clarence is such a great boy who has been through so much,” says Maresh.
Clarence reportedly loves squeaky toys and will gladly accept gifts delivered to Wag Again Rescue.
While Clarence continues to recover and does have a great home to go to, there are always Katy dogs that need help.
Help Pets Like Clarence
“Wag Again Rescue takes in the highest animal cruelty cases from Fort Bend and Harris County,” says Maresh. “We take the rescues that no one else will take.”
Learn more about Wag Again Rescue and how to make donations at their website.