 Dog severely neglected
Woodridge, IL (US)Date: Jul 3, 2004
County: Du Page
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Calvin V Thigpen
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Instead of helping his ailing pooch, a Woodridge man is accused of neglecting the dog for months before abandoning his pet outside a local pizzeria.
A judge issued a warrant Friday for Calvin V. Thigpen's arrest after prosecutors charged him with aggravated animal cruelty.
Thigpen faces up to three years in prison if convicted of harming his pit bull mix, Precious, who was less than a year old. Authorities euthanized her June 18, 2004 after veterinarians were unable to nurse the dog back to health.
Restaurant workers alerted police June 6 after finding the abandoned pit bull behind a garbage site in a fenced area.
The malnourished dog had a skin disease, called red mange, from being infested with mites. The disease was so advanced, the dog was covered with patchy fur, skin infections and bald, scaly sores.
"She was bleeding through her paws, which were swollen twice the normal size," Woodridge police Det. Bob Valenti said. "She had been hurting so much, I think she just stopped eating."
Witnesses at the restaurant provided police with a description of the man who dumped the dog. The Humane Society offered a $1,000 reward for information about the offender's identity.
More than one week later, one of Thigpen's neighbors tipped off police after hearing about the abandoned dog and noticing she hadn't seen the pit bull lately.
Initially, Thigpen only faced a misdemeanor. Prosecutor Tom Vega, though, upgraded the charges to a felony after reviewing the case.
DuPage Judge Kenneth Popejoy approved a $25,000 warrant Friday for Thigpen's arrest. He must post 10 percent or $2,500 for his release.
Authorities said Thigpen, who bought Precious for $100 from a friend, did seek medical help for the dog in February. The condition, though, requires expensive treatment.
"He just basically let it go," Valenti said. "Thigpen even admitted she got so bad, he just left her tied up outside in the garage." Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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