Help for Liebchen

POST FALLS - Liebchen is being taken care of.

After a story was published in The Press on Friday on the black lab mix getting attacked by two pit bulls while at a Union Gospel Mission pet clinic in Spokane, support to pay for her veterinarian services poured in.

"It fills my heart knowing people care so much about our situation," said Barbara Taylor, a disabled Post Falls woman who has used Liebchen as a service dog for nine years. "I'm elated. These people remind me that there is kindness in the world."

Kathleen Reitmeier, who owns Emerald Counseling in Post Falls, was among the first to Liebchen and Taylor's rescue and won the sweepstakes of getting to help.

Reitmeier agreed to pay for all of the costs for Liebchen at Ponti Veterinary Clinic just over the border in Washington and where Reitmeier takes her service dog.

Reitmeier said reading Liebchen's story made her want to take fast action.

"I wanted to throw up (in disgust)," Reitmeier said. "(Liebchen) has kept her alive for nine years. Who lets their two pit bulls take a dog down and then leaves? I took the article to everyone in my office building."

Reitmeier, a mental health therapist, is also offering Taylor any help she may need as a result of the traumatic experience and knows of someone who can provide hydrotherapy for Liebchen.

"I don't believe in coincidences," Reitmeier said. "Something ties me and that lady (Taylor) together."

Taylor, among others, pulled the pit bulls off Liebchen before their owners loaded up the attackers and sped off.

Taylor said Leibchen tells her when she is having an optical seizure that leads to migraines.

"My dog is my life," Taylor said. "I love her so much."

Taylor said the initial diagnosis on Liebchen is that she didn't suffer broken bones, but X-rays will confirm that and she has muscle damage. She has wounds on her neck and back legs from the pit bulls pulling at each end.

Liebchen still needed to be carried on Friday due to the injuries.

The dog was seen initially seen by a vet on Wednesday after the incident for about $99.78, but further examination was needed that neither Taylor nor her relatives could afford.

Coeur d'Alene's Kathy Branch, who also offered to help Taylor and Liebchen and formerly owned a pit bull, said the owners are generally just as responsible as the dogs over such attacks.

"Having two pits is not a very good idea, especially if you don't have them on a leash," Branch said. "People need to take care of their animals."

Taylor said police told her on Friday that the vehicle the pit bulls were in is registered to a Medical Lake resident who no longer lives at the address.

The dogs' owners, a middle-aged male and female, both white, were in a silver SUV with Washington plates. They are still being sought.