Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Dog abandoned with six-pound tumor

Dog abandoned with six-pound tumor
Englewood, CO (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Jun 6, 2007
County: Arapahoe
Local Map: available
Disposition: Open
Case Images: 10 files available

Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 11527

Classification: Beating, Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (pit-bull)

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Animal was offleash or loose

The Colorado Humane Society and Englewood Police are investigating what they say is the worst case of animal abuse they have ever seen. A dog was found in the city suffering from severe abuse because of an illness.

Police said they believe someone dumped the dog less than a mile from the Humane Society offices to try to get rid of it. Officers are looking for the dog's owner.

An animal control officer found the pit bull along South Platte River Drive. The dog was crawling, dragging a 6 pound tumor between her legs. It wasn't wearing a tag.

"Usually (the tumors) are the size of a BB," said Lara Riggenbach of the Colorado Humane Society. "This has been going on obviously for at least a year."

Veterinarians said the animal is currently not in any pain because it has been given large doses of narcotics and pain medication.

"It's probably an auto-immune (issue), like lupus," Riggenbach said. "That once again has been going on for years and years and is totally out of control."

Humane Society officials said the easy thing to do would be to put her down, but they would like to try and help the dog heal.

"Absolutely she deserves a second chance," Riggenbach said. "If any animal does, it's the cases of cruelty and neglect. You want to get them out of pain."

Vets plan to remove the tumor once the dog is stable.

They said the tumor would not have been there if the dog had been spayed. It's one reason experts encourage owners to spay or neuter their animals.

Case Updates

Nearly six weeks after being left to die, an abused pit bull named Elmi is ready to be adopted after a long recovery process.

The 6-year-old pit bull had a tumor the size of a football removed from her stomach after she was found abandoned on the side of the road and severely malnourished and dehydrated.

Veterinarians at the Colorado Humane Society also removed ulcers from her face.

Police have made no arrests or citations in the animal abuse case.

Since her abandonment, Elmi has captured the hearts of many concerned citizens. She has received a number of get-well cards, gifts and toys.

The Humane Society will hold a "Coming Out" party for the dog on Tuesday for families who would like to adopt her.

The event begins at 11 a.m. at the Colorado Humane Shelter at 2760 S. Platte River Drive. Anyone wishing to adopt Elmi can go to the shelter to fill out an application.

Source: The Denver Channel - July 16, 2007
Update posted on Jul 17, 2007 - 1:26PM

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An abused pit bull found abandoned 12 days ago is recovering after suffering severe abuse and undergoing surgery to remove a football-sized tumor.

The dog, named Elmi by her veterinarians, was given only a 50 percent chance of surviving surgery. Englewood police brought Elmi to the Colorado Humane Society June 6 with severe anemia and dehydration. She had ulcers on her face from years of abuse, veterinarians said.

The 6-year-old pit bull had been dumped in the 3100 block of South Platte River Drive and apparently left to die.

"It's definitely the most horrific case of neglect I've ever seen," said veterinarian Lara Riggenbach with the Colorado Humane Society. "It was abusive. It was very, very bad. The physical condition was shocking."

Elmi has since had the large tumor on her abdomen removed. Doctors said the tumor could have been prevented if she had been spayed. The ulcers and cuts on her face are now almost 90 percent healed.

"I think she's been a rock star," Riggenbach said. "She's been a great patient."

Doctors said Elmi's lips will never grow back, eaten away by disease.

"We have many cases like this. She's the one who got on the news but it takes a lot of donations," Riggenbach said. "It's really nice that the public stepped up and sent in the money to help with Elmi's care."

Elmi's care and treatment has cost about $3,000. The Colorado Humane Society has received about half of that in donations to help pay for her care.

Riggenbach and the dog's other veterinarians affectionately named her Elmi, which is Italian for "worthy of love."

"I really want to find someone who can give her the best of the end of her life," Riggenbach said.

Elmi's tumor was cancerous but X-rays of her lungs came back negative, so veterinarians said they are optimistic that she will recover.

Englewood police said they have received one credible tip in the case against the dog's abusive owners. However, no arrests in the case have been made.

If you have a tip for police, call Englewood police dispatch at 303-762-2438.

If you would like to donate to the medical fund for the dog, or adopt her, call the Colorado Humane Society Shelter at 303-781-9344.

Source: The Denver Channel - June 18, 2007
Update posted on Jun 19, 2007 - 7:25PM

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References

CBS 4 Denver - June 7, 2007

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Dog abandoned with six-pound tumorEnglewood, CO (US)

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Dog abandoned with six-pound tumor
Englewood, CO (US)