Pit bull neglect - 2 seized
Evansville, IN (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008
County: Vanderburgh
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 2 files available
Alleged:
» Shawn Eaden
» Kimberly Eaden
Animal Control picks up neglected and abandoned animals now on a daily basis, but what they saw Wednesday is what one worker described as "the most emaciated dog he has seen that is still alive."
"The female probably would have been dead in another couple of weeks," said Dr. Gregg Gromley of the Highland Veterinary Clinic.
Two pit bulls were lucky the Evansville Police Department dropped by to serve their owner Shawn Eaden an arrest warrant Wednesday. "As they walked around back they noticed these two pit bulls malnourished," said EPD Public Information Officer Steve Green.
Malnourished maybe an understatement. The female weighed in at 29 pounds and the male at 50 pounds. The reason for their sickly appearance is that the owners said they couldn't afford to feed them.
"The way it appeared, like they hadn't be fed in awhile...they said there was no food or water in their dishes," Green said.
So if they had no money, why didn't they seek help? The affidavit says they called Animal Control and the Humane Society but no one reached out to them.
But the Humane Society says they've never neglected an animal in need. "The bottom line is if someone called here and said they just couldn't take care of their animals we would have encouraged them to bring them to us," said Miranda Knight of the Vanderburgh Humane Societ.
The Humane Society also offers an emergency food program. Every Thursday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. people in need can pick out food for their animals.
Ultimately, they don't want to see what happened to the pit bulls happen to other animals. "We most definitely rather see them come to us where they were taken care of where they're getting the proper care then to stay out there and not get fed everyday and not receive the care that they need," Knight said.
As for the pit bulls, both will remain at the vet overnight, but as soon as they're back their feet they'll be put up for adoption.
Both owners, Shawn and Kimberly Eaden were cited with two counts of animal neglect.
Also on Wednesday, police responded to another act of animal cruelty in Evansville. Three dogs were found abandoned house off W Missouri St. References
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