Dog Recovers from Near-Fatal Stabbing

Editor's Note: Some of these photos are slightly graphic, as they show the dog's stab wounds.

On Monday evening, shortly after 8 p.m., Michelle Masella finished serving her kids dinner and went out to sit on her front porch in East Haven. As usual, she took out her 11-year-old boxer, Bailey. She had no idea what was about to happen to her beloved pet.

Masella, a single mother battling lymphatic cancer, sat on her front porch to let Bailey go for her evening run in the small park next door, she clapped for her dog to come to her as usual and suddenly heard a frightening, wretched howl and cry. She knew it was Bailey.

Bailey was wounded, and came to the porch, bleeding with a knife projecting out of her chest. Michelle pulled the knife from the dog, and she began to bleed uncontrollably. As Bailey climbed the stairs to Masella’s second floor apartment, she began to weaken and collapsed on the floor.

“There was blood everywhere, up the stairs, on the kitchen floor and all over the white area rug in my living room,” said Masella.  “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. My living room looked like a murder scene in a movie. I called the police, and they were there in minutes with Kristina, the Animal Control Officer from East Haven.  

She wrapped the wounded dog in towels and a blanket and put her in a truck. Her and her drove to the New Haven Central Hospital for Veternary Medicine.

“We all agreed [the police, animal control officer and I] that it would be best if she was with us. We didn’t want to disorient her” she said of Bailey.

“All the way to State Street, I knew that Bailey must have known her attacker, it was haunting to think that someone would do such a horrible thing to an innocent animal, a dog so gentle and loving. Animal Control Officer Kristina stayed with us right up until Bailey’s surgery, she was wonderful, I will always be so grateful to her” commented Michelle.

After Bailey’s surgery, she was in the holding area for a very long period of time to make sure that she could breathe on her own so we could take her home. Veterinarian Dr. Amy Anderson was the D.V.M. on staff at the time, and she performed the procedures on Bailey to stop the bleeding, put drains into her wounds, and surgically repair the dogs injuries.

The cost of Bailey’s emergency visit totaled $5,607. A close family friend is checking into setting up a fund at Wells Fargo Bank for anyone who’d like to help pay for some of Bailey’s costs, which will increase when she is brought back to have her drains and stitches removed.

Bailey sustained three stab wounds, one of which was superficial to her right shoulder with five stitches on the inside and two on the outside. Her left shoulder was also injured in the barbaric attempt to harm her, but should heal fairly fast. The most damaging of Bailey’s wounds was a direct stab to her chest, requiring two drains and twenty seven stitches. Masella told Patch that if the wound was any lower, it would have punctured Bailey’s heart. “Thank God she has so much muscle where the worst of the stabs were inflicted” said Michelle.

At this time, Bailey is home and resting, until in a few days when the drains will be roved. In two weeks she will have her stitches taken out.  “One of the biggest worries, Masella said, "is that Bailey may end up with respiratory problems as a result of the damage done to her.”

In order for Bailey to go outside, Masella's oldest son must carry her up and down two flights of stairs. She is eating spoon-fed soft food to help her digestive system function without discomfort, and is drinking from a child's sippy cup to stay hydrated.

As of yet, evidence is still being collected by the East Haven Police Department, including prints from the knife that Bailey’s attacker used. Masella told news reporters that she blamed her ex-boyfriend, but East Haven police said there is no evidence supporting this and that the man has an alibi that has been corrobated by several witnesses, according to News 8.

Anyone wishing to donate toward Bailey's veterinary bill can send checks to: New Haven Central Hospital for Veterinary Care, 843 State St., New Haven, CT 06513.

"Bailey" should appear in the memo. If donations exceed Bailey's bill(s), New Haven Central will put the funds aside for a pet owner who may not be able to pay a medical emergency bill.