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Case #12349 Rating: 3.6 out of 5
Dog starved, neglected
Tamaqua, PA (US)Incident Date: Friday, Sep 28, 2007
County: Schuylkill
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available
Defendant/Suspect: Bob Pfeil
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
An animal shelter in Schuylkill County is on a mission to save Ozzie, a dog that Humane Society officials say was neglected and starved by his owner.
Tamaqua police took evidence photographs of the dog late last month. They show Ozzie with his ribs showing. The SPCA said the dog's owner was starving him.
After a few days of food, water and TLC, Ozzie' looks better but still limps. He is at the Hillside SPCA near Pottsville.
Ozzie's leg is deformed. The vet said that's from an old break that was never properly fixed.
"I wasn't really sure if it was broke or not. He was licking it for two or three days and then he was walking on it. He was hobbling on it a little bit but I thought it was a sprain then," said Bob Pfeil, Ozzie's owner.
Police have filed a cruelty citation against Pfeil.
"I fed him. He had dry dog food and wet dog food. I don't know what to say. I wasn't starving him," Pfeil said, adding he doesn't know how the dog was in such poor condition.
"This is one of the worst cases we've seen. I mean it's just horrendous. How long can you watch your dog just waste away like that?" said Liz Pysher of Hillside SPCA.
"The vet also said there is muscle wasting which means the dog has gone beyond starving. The muscles are being eaten away because of the lack of food," said Janine Choplick, also of the shelter.
SPCA officials said Ozzie is eating and starting to gain weight.
"We feed him several times a day to get his body used to taking in food once again. Sometimes when a dog is so starved to feed them too much at once can cause harm on their organs," explained Tricia Moyer of the shelter.
Ozzie will go up for adoption when he recovers. Tamaqua police said they wish there was a stronger law on the books to charge Ozzie's owner. If convicted he could be fined $750 and/or 90 days in jail. Jail time is rarely part of the sentence.
Case UpdatesA family in Schuylkill County has a special reason to celebrate the Fourth of July.
Their dog, Ozzie, now has a loving home and owners in Coaldale.
"We feel in love with him. He gave me those big sad eyes, came over to me, sat in my lap and kissed me and that was it," recalled Kelly Fallon.
"He's a great dog. He's my buddy. He loves playing in the yard with me and our other dog, Max and when people come over he loves having company. He's great with kids, her little cousins and that," Dan Fallon said of Ozzie.
The dog didn't always have a good life. Late last year he was taken from his previous owner. SPCA officials said Ozzie was being starved, his leg was broken by a fall and that injury was not taken care of.
Bob Pfeil of Tamaqua pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and paid a $100 fine.
"To me, my dogs are my children and you wouldn't do it to children. Why do it to a dog," Kelly Fallon added.
Although Ozzie is healthy now, he still has some scars. He is missing that injured leg.
"They tried to fix it. They put pins in, did surgery on it but it wouldn't heal because he was so malnourished so eventually they had to take the leg off," Kelly Fallon explained.
The Fallons have two dogs but Ozzie seems to be the favorite.
"He loves to lay down on the couch and all that and just loves a lot of attention," said Paul Fallon.
Some would say Ozzie has an easy life. The Fallons say he deserves it. | Source: WNEP - July 4, 2008
Update posted on Jul 6, 2008 - 2:23PM |
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