By: Nick Powers | Roseville-Eastpointe Eastsider | Published March 15, 2025
ROSEVILLE — There’s still blood that won’t come out of Brandon Moreno’s seat, but he’s not too concerned about it. He doesn’t see himself as a “saint”; he just did what anyone would do if they saw a dog being thrown from a vehicle.
“I just saw an opportunity at the right time,” Moreno said. “I go out of my way to help anybody. I don’t care how small or how big or what you are. I help every little life out there.”
Moreno finished a shift at his manufacturing shop job at 5 p.m. Feb. 28 and was headed to his home in Warren. He was exiting Interstate 94 to get onto Interstate 696 when he saw a light-colored SUV or van with someone throwing out what, at first glance, looked like trash. He saw an unidentified motorist on the side of the road picking it up. When he got a better look, he immediately pulled over to help.
“She was not looking good,” Moreno said.
Moreno thought the dog might be put down, given how severe her injuries were. Despite this, she was well behaved.
“This is what really got me: This dog is friendly, she’s nice and she’s calm,” he said. “She didn’t want to attack me, she didn’t want to bite me, she didn’t want to do anything. All she really wanted me to do was cuddle with her, hold her, because she was in pain. She just wanted somebody.”
The unidentified motorist didn’t know what to do, but Moreno knew someone he thought might be able to help the dog. Donna Demartelaere is the mom of one of Moreno’s sister’s friends. Moreno knew the work Demartelaere did with animals.
“I said, ‘Have him bring it over to my house. I’ll take a look, but I can’t promise anything.’ I didn’t even know it was a pit bull,” Demartelaere said.
Demartelaere, who works at Motor City Possum Rescue, has been rehoming animals for over 30 years professionally. She also takes care of cats, birds, squirrels, possums and raccoons. She started rehabilitating animals when she found an injured dog at a creek in Troy when she was 13 years old. Her parents didn’t let her keep the dog, but they let her take care of it.
“I’ve done well over 2,000 animals,” Demartelaere said.
When Moreno brought the dog over, Demartelaere called her boss, Cyndi Russ, from Motor City Possum Rescue. Russ, who also works at West Woodward Animal Hospital in Ferndale, told Demartelaere to bring the dog in. The animal hospital treated the dog’s injuries.
Moreno named the dog Hope. He said he’s considering taking her in, but he has to see if she’ll get along with his cat and dog first. Whoever adopts her, Moreno just wants her to go to a good home.
“This dog should’ve never gone through what she’s gone through,” Moreno said. “She is going to be a loving, caring dog for whoever gets her.”
Demartelaere said Hope had a broken jaw, broken teeth and lacerations on her face. She also has scratches and missing hair from where she hit the pavement. Hope’s teeth had to be removed on one side of her mouth as a result of the broken jaw. She can only eat soft foods currently because of the broken jaw, like scrambled eggs or watered-down wet dog food.
“Her spirits are good,” Demartelaere said. “She sleeps a lot because she’s still on a lot of medication. She’s doing really well; she’s a real sweetheart.”
John Miskena, a veterinarian at West Woodward Animal Hospital, said a fracture on a toe on Hope’s right hind leg was found later.
“We’re treating it. It’s splinted now,” he said.
Miskena said he occasionally sees the kind of abuse that Hope endured at the hospital, though he’s not a stranger to it, having worked with rescue groups like Rebel Dogs Detroit. Miskena said leaving dogs on the side of the road isn’t uncommon, but throwing them out of a moving vehicle is.
“Hope’s case was unusual,” he said. “The violence of it seemed unreasonable. There’s no reason someone should have done that.”
Miskena said, from what he’s seen over the years, animal abuse has decreased. He’s been a veterinarian for five years, but he has been involved in the family business since he was a kid. West Woodward Animal Hospital was started in 2010 by Miskena’s father. Miskena bought the business from his father in 2020. When Miskena worked at Northwest Animal Hospital, a business his father previously owned, in the 1990s, he said abuse was more widespread.
“Dog abuse and dog negligence was way more rampant,” Miskena said. “I think the younger generation’s education is better.”
Demartelaere said she will eventually find her a home when the dog is “100%.”
She wants whoever threw Hope out the window to be held accountable.
“If you can’t take care of an animal, find somebody who will take care of it,” Demartelaere said.
Miskena said those who can’t take care of a dog have a few options. He recommends looking for a family member or friend who can care for the animal. If one can’t afford the dog, there are outreach groups — like Animal Care Network — that can provide some financial assistance for veterinarian visits. Miskena said having a rescue group adopt one’s dog is another option available.
Additionally, Miskena said to call county animal control if one sees a stray dog. He said social media sites can be a good way to connect people with lost pets, especially the group For the Love of Louie.
To donate to Hope’s recovery, those interested can send money to Demartelaere’s Cash App at $ddmart20.