Dog confined for 90 days with no food or water
Lake Odessa, MI (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Jan 27, 2010
County: Kent
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 3 files available
Alleged: Adult Female name undisclosed
Workers at Mackenzie's Animal sanctuary say it is one of the worst cases of animal neglect they've seen in years. A 2-year old bulldog mix malnourish until it was practically nothing but skin and bones.
"He was brought in yesterday. When they (Kent County Animal Control) first got him he weighed about 26 pounds. His bones were sticking out all over. He had been locked in a garage for about 90 days," said Rick Wiersuma, a behavior modification attendant at Mackenzie's.
"I mean he was just bones. It's just heartbreaking to see an animal like that," said Amanda Parrish, Marketing and PR Coordinator. "Howie's original owner was incarcerated and the girlfriend who was in the home just didn't want to take care of him. She tossed him out into the garage never fed him, never watered him. Our understanding is some neighbor kids heard him in the garage, broke a window and would toss food into him."
After 3 months police returned to the home on a different matter, heard Howie barking, and discovered him clinging to life.
"He is lucky to be alive. I mean 90 days locked in a garage without food and water I know that we would be dead," said Wiersuma."
Wiersuma gives the dog, Howie, appropriately nicknamed Hungry Howie, a few kisses and couple of treats and it is soon apparent Howie needs little else to be happy.
"Yeah he's a good boy," said Wiersuma stroking Howie. "This morning we went in and I gave him extra large bowl of dog food and he actually eats so quickly that I had to get him to pause because he starts to cough a little bit. He just really, really focuses so intently on the food and gulping it down. It's sick what they did. I don't know how else to describe it."
Sick but all too common sight according to Parrish. She says says last year they saw an increase in the number of abused and neglected dogs, possibly a sign of the poor economy.
"Animal Control often finds animals that have just been completely neglected and starved and no source of food or water," she said. "Our goal here is to find loving homes for these dogs that have been abused and have been neglected. We take them in and rehabilitate them the best we can. We provide them with love and care and training, food any medical needs they have."
Mackenzie's is the largest no-kill animal shelter in West Michigan and the place dogs like these go when there is no where else to turn.
"We really give these animals a second chance. We have some dogs that have been here 3 or 4 years, even 5 years. But we will always have a place for them," she said.
However the goal is to find loving and permanent homes for all of the animals and hopefully to raise awareness about the evils of animal cruelty.
"People are used to seeing all happy dogs here and on our website. We were a little nervous about sharing these stories but I think it is important people know what some of these animals go through when they first get here or first get to Animal Control," she said. "This is unfortunately what some people do and it is sick and it's wrong. and they should be prosecuted for it and we also hope that if other people see cases like this where they see dogs kind of alone in the back yard, not getting attention, not getting fed, call.
Mackenzie's is seeking support to help with rehabilitating Howie and other dogs in need of care due to cases of abuse and neglect. To help visit their website http://www.mackenzies.info or call (616) 693-2490.
Parrish says there is no word yet on whether the owner or girlfriend will face animal cruelty charges. References |
