Pregnant dog neglected, decaying puppies in womb Lincolnton, NC (US)Incident Date: Monday, Oct 5, 2009 County: Lincoln
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Jacob Eli Dellinger
A Lincolnton man was charged with animal cruelty Monday for neglecting his pregnant dog, according Lincoln County Animal Services officials.
When the dog was confiscated, the 2-year-old Shar Pei had infected eyes and ears, mange and carried in its womb decaying puppies, said Jack Kerley with Animal Services.
The dog’s owner, Jacob Eli Dellinger, was charged with animal cruelty and held on a $5,000 bond.
Dellinger did not provide veterinary care to the dog, Abba, and was warned by Animal Services on two occasions, according to a press release from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
Patty Lackey with Animal Services noticed problems with Abba from the first time she saw her. The dog had little hair and was secreting a mixture of blood and puss.
“Anyone who had a dog bleeding like that would know something was wrong,” she said.
Abba was taken to a nearby veterinarian and had surgery to remove the puppies and treat the infection.
“We assessed the dog and sent her straight to the vet,” Kerley said. “The vet said that if we hadn’t gotten it there, she would’ve died.”
Abba’s hair is still missing and her ribs are still showing through her thin skin, but she’s on the road to recovery, Kerley said.
Abba was packed up Wednesday afternoon and sent to foster care.
Dellinger, 34, of Brady Hoffman Road, will make his first appearance in court Tuesday.
Kerley and Lackey will be at the Lincoln County Courthouse Tuesday for Dellinger’s first appearance and two other animal cruelty cases -- one involving a dog with an imbedded collar and one about a dog who was shot and killed while on a chain.
Handling such cases is tough, but Kerley said it’s worth the effort to address the injustice many pets suffer.
“We’re just not going to tolerate this type of behavior,” said Kerley. References |