Caitlyn the Dog, who became a global symbol against animal cruelty when images of her abuse went viral, died this week surrounded by her family.
Attorney Ted Corvey, who adopted the 10-year-old pet after putting her abuser in prison, said her health took a sudden turn on Jan. 8. She had developed an aggressive form of cancer, Corvey said.
The family called her a “tremendous blessing” in an Instagram post announcing her Jan. 12 death.
“We remain very proud of the work done on her case and the ongoing work we are involved in related to animal welfare and combating cruelty,” the announcement read. “However, as proud as we are of bringing justice to her, what we are proudest of is being her family and having had her in our lives for as long we did.”
A vigil is planned at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Charleston Animal Society, 2455 Remount Road.
In 2015, Caitlyn was found in North Charleston with her mouth wrapped in electrical tape and sealed shut. The 15-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier mix was at risk of starvation, and the tip of her tongue had turned black. Her injuries required extensive surgery. The Charleston Animal Society circulated images of her swollen muzzle that garnered global headlines, led to an outpouring of donations and furthered the cause against animal cruelty.
The nonprofit later named its anti-cruelty fund in her honor, which has been used to investigate hundreds of such cases and provide treatment to injured animals, according to a news release.
“Caitlyn's legacy will continue to live on and inspire all of us to do better,” said Joe Elmore, the nonprofit's president. “When there is cruelty to any animal, each of us must do something to stop it.”
William Leonard Dodson, Caitlyn's owner, pleaded guilty to felony ill-treatment of an animal in August 2016. Dodson sought to silence her barking, The Post and Courier previously reported. A judge sentenced him to five years in prison, the maximum allowed under state law, and called Caitlyn's abuse “hell on earth.”
Dodson was denied parole in 2017. The parole board noted thousands of people wrote in against his early release. Dodson is serving a federal prison sentence in Mississippi for unrelated drug and firearm charges, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Dodson had tossed a loaded handgun, marijuana and cocaine as he fled from North Charleston police during a 2015 traffic stop. He is scheduled to be released in 2028, according to prison records.
Corvey, who was lead solicitor in Dodson's case, had prosecuted other animal cruelty cases before Caitlyn's. What made her case stand out, aside from the abuse, was the global attention given to Caitlyn. Letters of support inundated the 9th Circuit Solicitor's Office, he said. In pursuing the maximum penalty for Dodson, Corvey said he wanted to make a statement against animal cruelty.
“It was just a different animal, no pun intended,” he told The Post and Courier.
Nine years later, Corvey said he has received emails of condolences from people overseas that hadn't forgotten about Caitlyn's case.
A photo of Caitlyn looking up at Corvey hangs in the Charleston Animal Society. It was taken the day Dodson was sentenced, Corvey said. He had met with Caitlyn and her foster families occasionally during court proceedings.
“I thought that was going to be the last time I saw her,” he said.
Caitlyn went through several foster families as she made her medical recovery. In 2018, Aldwin Roman, the animal society's vice president, told Corvey she needed a new home. She fit right in with his family and their other dogs.
Despite her early-life abuse, Caitlyn remained a high-energy dog and time eased her anxiety and fear of people, Corvey said. She was deeply fond of the Corveys' 20-month-old son, Reagan.
But, birds never stopped being her enemy.
