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Case ID: 14628

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (non pit-bull), dog (pit-bull)

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Attorneys/Judges

Prosecutor(s):

Morley Swingle

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Nine dogs found starving, abandoned
Friedheim, MO (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Sep 26, 2008
County: Cape Girardeau

Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available

Alleged: Catherine Lee

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Nine dogs, including puppies, were seized Friday at an Old Appleton property after Cape Girardeau County sheriff's deputies said the animals suffered severe neglect.

The dogs, mostly pit bull mixes, one chow mix and one purebred boxer, are being treated and evaluated at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, said Requi Salter of the Humane Society.

They were found severely emaciated, two of them tested positive for heartworms and all suffered from internal parasites, Salter said.

"They were basically tied to trees and starving to death," Salter said.

A suspect in the animal abuse case has been identified and will face charges, though none were filed as of Friday night, according to the sheriff's department.

Formal charges are pending with the Cape Girardeau County prosecuting Attorney's office.

Six of the dogs were adults, the oldest being about 4 years old, Salter said. The age of all three puppies was estimated at around 6 months, she said.

The puppies seemed to have fared better than the older dogs in terms of the condition in which they were found, Salter said.

The Humane Society will look for foster homes to care for the dogs until they can be made available for adoption, Salter said.

All of the dogs were willing to let a veterinarian at Skyview Animal Clinic, at 883 Kingshighway, evaluate them.

Salter said they all seem to have been previously handled and are social animals.

"They knew we were there to rescue them, and they were ready to go," she said.

An American pit bull terrier rescue group was also contacted about the rescue, according to the sheriff's department.

Case Updates

Two weeks after nine severely neglected dogs were seized by sheriff's deputies, their former owner faces charges for animal abuse, and the dogs are on their way to happier homes.

Catherine Lee, 40, of Friedhiem, Mo., faces one count of animal abuse for neglecting to provide food or water for one chow mix, one Australian shepherd, one boxer and six pit bulls.

The dogs, described by Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle as "skelatons with fur" at the time of their rescue, have all been placed in foster homes except for three, said Cheryl Dillon, director of the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri.

The chow mix has been reunited with his original owner, a Farmington man who claims the dog was stoen from him a year ago, Dillon said.

He recognized the animal immediately when he saw a photo on telelvision, and produced some pictures of the dog to show humane society officials he was the original owner.

The dog definitely remembered him, and "they were both very happy," Dillon said.

The Australian shepherd is the only dog not yet placed in a foster home, and one of the pit bull puppies was adopted already, Dillon said.

The adult female pit bull proved to be in the worst shape, and court documents say she had to be carried because she couldn't support her own weight.

Dillon said the dog has put on some pounds, and her foster parents recently sent pictures to the humane society her the dog playing in the backyard.

"It's just going to take time," Dillon said.

Sheriff's deputies found the dogs Sept. 25 at a County Road 404 residence. They were responding to a report of animal neglect.

When they arrived, they saw several dogs tied to trees and noticed two dogs running loose, according to a probable cause statement.

The animals, especially the pit bulls, were skinny, and rib bones protruded through their flea coated skin, the statement said.

Some wore sharp edged- chains around their necks and none of them had food or water. Lee told officers she couldn't afford to feed her dogs because of her financial situation. She released them to the custody of the humane society.

Lee could face up to a year in jail and a fine of $1,000 if convicted.

Anyone interested in adopting one of the dogs should contact the humane society at 334-5837.

Source: seMissourian - Oct 9, 2008
Update posted on Oct 9, 2008 - 7:05PM

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Nine dogs found starving, abandonedFriedheim, MO (US)

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Nine dogs found starving, abandoned
Friedheim, MO (US)