Animal Abuse: Dog found near death - Maryville, TN | Pet-Abuse.Com Animal Cruelty Database

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Case ID: 19247

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (non pit-bull)

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Dog found near death
Maryville, TN (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Feb 2, 2012
County: Blount

Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 2 files available

Alleged: Hank Anthony Stropp

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Bruno was rescued from certain death yesterday. When rescuers first arrived to his home, he appeared to have already died.

His cold body was lying inside of his makeshift dog-house...his eyes were open, but he was not moving.

Somehow his emaciated body had held on - despite the torturous neglect he had endured.

Bruno's owners forced him to live on the end of a chain, surrounded by mud.

Bruno was not living - he was breathing (barely) but he was not living.

He was existing.

He was suffering.

He was barely holding on.

The in Maryville.

Donations can be made at this to tell them thank you for rescuing Bruno from his hellish existence.

Be well Bruno - fight to survive - you deserve to know what kindness is.

Case Updates

Blount Co. authorities have charged Hank Anthony Stropp with aggravated animal cruelty after a neighbor reported that a dog appeared to be starving.

The 21-year-old Maryville man turned himself into the Blount County Jail Tuesday night after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He said he couldn't afford to feed the animal. He's out of jail on bond.

The story of Stropp's dog-- a German Shepard-Chow mix named "Bruno" --has circulated through social media creating an outpouring of support.

In the words of his vet, his recovery is a remarkable one. But the rescuers say so is the community's support.

"He was frozen stiff with his neck thrown back and his eyes bulged out. And at first glance we really thought he was dead," said Crystal Wallace, a Blount County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals volunteer.

Bruno didn't look like he was going to make it through the night when volunteers from the BCSPCA helped save him from starvation.

"The pictures really told a story," Wallace said.

For the past seven days, he's been in Dr. Ed Lehman's care.

"He really did look like an animal with skin stretched over bones. He probably should be a 60 pound dog and he weighed less than 27 pounds. As of Thursday, he weighed 35 pounds," said Dr. Lehman.

The round the clock attention and nourishment has made Bruno a brand new dog.

"He's very popular," said Dr. Lehman.

The dog couldn't walk and could barely blink before he came to Village Veterinary Hospital care. He was emaciated and covered in fleas.

"Most of his problem was just associated with nutrition. So we have a problem with intestinal worms, heart worm disease, but other than that he's made a remarkable comeback. He's a great dog too. Everybody loves him," he said.

In fact, people who've never met him have connected with Bruno. It started when a SPCA volunteer, Crystal Wallace, asked for a prayer on Facebook.

"Next thing I know we were slammed with nearly a thousand dollars in less than 24 hours. It just escalated," said Wallace.

Hundreds of comments on the internet and now nearly $3,500 in donations have been sent Bruno's way.

"It's coming in from everywhere. California, Australia, Florida. It's amazing," she said.

Dr. Lehman says another week at the vet and he'll be ready for a new home.

"He'll be a fat Shepherd-Chow when all is said and done I suspect," Dr. Lehman said.

The organization "4 Chics and a Cat" is handling the adoption. They say they already have a lot of people who want to take Bruno home.

Source: wbir.com - Feb 9, 2012
Update posted on Feb 9, 2012 - 11:48PM

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Dog found near deathMaryville, TN (US)

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Dog found near death
Maryville, TN (US)