15 dogs abandoned in garage, 3 dead
Buffalo, NY (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Dec 19, 2007
County: Erie
Disposition: Alleged
Abuser names unreleased
Three dead and twelve dehydrated dogs are found locked inside a Buffalo garage. The dogs were left in crates sitting in a cold garage since Wednesday. The Erie County SPCA was alerted to the situation today by an anonymous caller. The twelve living dogs that were rescued are now getting treatment at the SPCA's facility in Tonawanda. Two adult Rottweilers are in the worst condition. Both are running high temperatures and one is on IV fluids. The rest of the dogs are dehydrated and emaciated.
In total, there were fifteen dogs. Eight Chihuahuas were inside one crate together, though two newborn puppies and one adult female were already dead. SPCA Executive Director Barbara Carr suspects the adult dog could be the puppies' mother. "Puppies cannot maintain their own body heat until they're about 4 weeks of age. So any exposure to the cold, they will become that temperature rather quickly and its incompatible with life."
The Chihuahuas were found inside the Plymouth Avenue garage along with five adult and two baby Rottweilers. All of the dogs were freezing and starving with no food or water to drink. Carr said, "I haven't seen anything like this, in dogs, in a couple of years - where we had over 10 dogs in a case. So its not good."
7 News talked to some neighbors who say they've heard barking this week coming from the direction of the home and they are now disgusted to see the cramped conditions these dogs were living in. Diana LeBoy asid, "I seen three of them, one was dead. And they were skinny."
Animal control officers are trying to locate the owner of these dogs. Neighbors say he is a new tenant, who just moved to Buffalo on Tuesday from Arkansas. The SPCA's main concern right now though, is addressing the health of the rescued dogs. The two adult Rottweilers may not make it. Carr said, "They appear to have some upper respiratory illness. They had pussy eyes, that sort of thing, so its not a good situation."
Once the animal control officer completes her investigation, she will submit her findings to the Erie County District Attorney and the ADA will decide whether or not to pursue charges. Carr says that it is likely there could be either a felony or a misdemeanor charge filed against the owner. References« NY State Animal Cruelty Map
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