Two pitbulls left out in extreme cold, one dies
Boulder, CO (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Jan 11, 2007
County: Boulder
Disposition: Alleged
Abuser names unreleased
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Two pitbulls were removed from a home in Boulder County last week after neighbors called animal control, worried that the dogs had been left outside in extremely cold temperatures for several days.
One of the dogs suffered from frostbite and the other had to be euthanized because of the severity of its injuries, the Boulder Humane Society said.
The owners of the dogs have been charged with two counts of animal cruelty, according to the Boulder County Animal Control.
The dogs were removed from the home Jan 11 evening and brought to the Humane Society of Boulder Valley for care.
The male dog, which had been sick earlier in the week, was not able to stand or walk, and over the course of the next few days, his condition had deteriorated, vets at the Humane Society said.
"We do not know what the initial cause of the male's condition was, but the exposure this week to the cold weather conditions certainly took their toll on this dog," said Humane Society of Boulder Valley veterinarian Dr. Lesli Hick.
"Because the male dog did not receive immediate care his condition was extremely grave, our vets determined the most humane thing to do was to euthanize the dog, said Jan McHugh-Smith, chief executive officer of the Humane Society of Boulder Valley.
The female dog was generally in good health, but had suffered frostbite, authorities said.
"If animal control had been contacted sooner the outcome might have been very different. It is a very sad situation," McHugh-Smith said. "This case exemplifies the importance of providing pets with safe and warm shelter. Keeping your pets indoors when cold weather occurs is vital. Reporting neglect and cruelty quickly is vital to ensure the best possible outcome for any animal in distress. A phone call to your local animal care and control officer or police department is the most important step to getting help. We rely on members of our community to assist officers in identifying cruelty and neglect cases so we can end the suffering of animals in these types of situations."
Case UpdatesNearly a week after she was rescued from the frigid temperatures, Lucy, a 3-year-old pit bull from Boulder, is on the road to finding a new home.
The Humane Society of Boulder Valley has put her up for adoption.
Lucy is the lucky one. Bobby, a 7-year-old pit bull that lived with her, was euthanized after veterinarians determined that his condition was "extremely grave" after he was brought to the shelter.
Last Thursday, with temperatures hovering in the single digits, Boulder County Animal Control confiscated the pit bulls after receiving calls from neighbors concerned that the dogs had been left outside for several days.
Lucy suffered from frostbite to her ears. Bobby seemed to have had a pre-existing condition that got worse when he was left out in the cold, the Humane Society said.
Boulder County Animal Control has cited the dogs' owner with two counts of animal cruelty.
Animal Control Officer Sara Spensieri said the owner seemed unaware of how to take care of the pit bulls, which had been living primarily outdoors.
"Most of the time, it is ignorance from their part," Spensieri said. "Part of our job is educating people about how to care for their pets."
Since the beginning of the year, Boulder County Animal Control and Denver County have seen a spike in reports of animal neglect related to the cold weather. The former has received many calls related to the welfare of cattle, horses and short-haired dogs left outside in the cold, Spensieri said.
Denver Animal Care and Control reported receiving 609 calls since Dec. 1. Reports deal with a range of concerns, from pets left outside during inclement weather to injured animals hit by cars and pets left abandoned in houses during storms. The majority of calls concern pets left outdoors with no food or shelter.
"The take-home message is that it's really cold and cats and dogs are not built to be outside in weather like this," said Philip Meltzer, veterinarian at University Hills Animal Hospital in Denver.
People who suspect that a pet does not have adequate shelter, or fresh water and food should contact the pet's owner or call animal control, Meltzer said. "A doghouse is just not adequate shelter," he said.
Lisa Pedersen, of the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, said it encourages people to call animal control if they suspect that a pet is being neglected. | Source: Rocky Mountain News - Jan 17, 2007
Update posted on Jan 17, 2007 - 9:34PM |
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