Donkey hurt in dragging 'doing good' in New Caney

Susie Q, a pet donkey injured in a dragging incident, recovers in a new pen in New Caney Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012. Susie Q, a pet donkey injured in a dragging incident, recovers in a new pen in New Caney Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012. Photo: Robert Stanton, . Photo: Robert Stanton, . Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Donkey hurt in dragging 'doing good' in New Caney 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

Susie Q is a fighter.

A week after the pet donkey was dragged from the back of an SUV in Montgomery County, severely injuring her hooves, she is on the road to recovery at her New Caney home.

"She's doing good, and the rest it's just all recovery now," said owner Darryl Byrd Sr., 42. "We went as far as we could with her, and the rest of it's her pulling together with us."

Meanwhile, a Conroe business is collecting donations to help defray medical costs for the jenny. To donate, stop by Feed Store and More at 17184 FM 3083, or call owner Kim Ray at 936-231-1184.

The suspect, Marc Richard Saunders, 30, of Splendora, has been charged with felony animal cruelty in the case, investigators said.

The chain of events began last Thursday when friends of Saunders told him the donkey had wandered around the corner and was secured on Acorn Hill Drive, northwest of New Caney, so that someone could retrieve her, investigators said.

Another friend offered to walk the donkey home, but Saunders insisted on driving, saying he would tie the animal to the trailer hitch on his Chevrolet Blazer and slowly lead her.

Saunders, accompanied by another man, found Susie Q, and they tied her to the vehicle with a rope, according to a news release from the Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constable's Office. The second man sat on the open tailgate of Saunders' SUV and they took off with the donkey in tow.

The man continued to yell, but watched helplessly as the donkey was injured by the pavement. The man estimated that Saunders drove about 40 mph as he dragged Susie Q about one-quarter mile.

"The blood trail left by the donkey supported the witness's story and showed that Saunders drove at least 10 to 15 feet farther after Susie Q fell on her side when the pavement had ground off her hooves between 1.5 and 2 inches, exposing raw flesh and bone," the release states.

Saunders finally stopped and walked to the back of the SUV, the witness told investigators. When he saw the bloody donkey, Saunders untied the rope from the trailer hitch and fled.

Deputies tracked him to Splendora, where they found a bloodied rope in the SUV that is believed to have been used to drag the animal. The SUV was impounded.

Susie Q is getting plenty of love as she recuperates from her injuries that also include a laceration on her torso. Byrd and his son, Darryl Byrd Jr., have built a new shed and pen for the jenny outside their New Caney home. They change the donkey's bandages and get her up to walk at least twice a day.

"She has pain medicine but I don't give it to her unless I see that she needs it," said Darryl Byrd Sr. "It makes her lethargic and makes her sleep all day."

Rachel Jackson, Byrd's fiancée, said she's confident the 2-year-old jenny will make a full recovery. "She hasn't honked or brayed since she got sick," Jackson said. "When she does that again, I'll know Susie Q is back, 100 percent."

Dr. Brian Saathoff, a Conroe veterinarian who treated Susie Q at the scene, said it would time for the animal to make a full recovery.

"I've seen a lot of things, but for somebody to do such a bad thing to an animal, and on purpose, was totally unnecessary," he said. "That was pretty bad."