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Case ID: 15881

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (non pit-bull)

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Dog severely matted, 9lbs of hair removed
Rexburg, ID (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Oct 23, 2009
County: Madison

Disposition: Not Charged
Case Images: 1 files available

Abuser names unreleased

Police have investigated an incident of animal neglect involving a small male dog discovered in a backyard with severely matted hair.

Police Chief James Smith says the owner of the dog has been identified, and the investigation is continuing.

But it's unlikely any charges will be filed against the owner of the animal because of the owner's "diminished capacity." Instead of seeking charges against the owner, the police are contacting state welfare authorities to get help for the owner.

Smith says the police picked up the dog after a resident called to report an animal of unknown species in the backyard.

The police contacted Deb Coleman, president of the Humane Society for the Upper Valley, who took the dog to the Fremont Animal Clinic, where the staff took care of him.

Coleman and Smith say the dog will recover. But Smith says the cost of veterinary care will be expensive. The dog had to be anesthetized to remove the matted hair from his paws.

About 9 pounds of matted hair were removed from the 11-pound dog, according to an e-mail from society member Andi Elliott.

Coleman says the society's Second Chance Fund is nearly depleted due to several animal care costs over the summer. She has sent out an e-mail plea to members of the society seeking funds.

Anyone interested in donating may send checks to:

Humane Society of the Upper Valley
P.O. Box 51021
Idaho Falls, ID 83405.

"He's feeling better this morning," Coleman said Wednesday after the veterinary care the dog received Tuesday.

Smith says the dog owner had other dogs, but they appear to be in good shape. He says the matted dog is now in the care of the Humane Society.

Because this is not the first incident where a person with diminished capacity has been involved in an animal neglect case, Coleman says some kind of ordinance may be needed to prevent it from recurring.

"We need some way to deal with this," she says. Smith concurred.

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