Abandoned Rottweiler found emaciated
Bridgeton, NJ (US)Date: Sep 10, 2004
Disposition: Not Charged
Person of Interest: Michael Bell
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An abandoned 3-year-old female Rottweiler was found emaciated inside a vacant home on Dare Avenue by neighbors, then rescued by police, the evening of Sept. 10.
The Dare Avenue home was formerly occupied by Michael and Lisa Bell, then just Michael Bell after the couple separated in December 2001, according to Lisa Rivera. Investigators consider the ex-husband a suspect, but say they will continue to look into the matter before deciding whether to bring charges against him.
Rivera is now living in Newport, having reassumed her maiden name after the Bell's "ugly divorce" was finalized in January, ending a 10-year marriage.
While the investigation into the apparent months-long abandonment of the dog is ongoing, one thing is for sure: The Cumberland County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will not seek animal cruelty charges against Rivera.
Police and the SPCA had linked both Michael and Lisa Bell to the sickly Rottweiler, Sasha, through its rabies tag, but were initially unaware where they were living or that they were divorced.
That is, until Rivera went to the SPCA shelter in Vineland to visit her former pet last Friday.
"They've cleared my name. I am thankful for that. We were separated for two years and divorced for a year. So, it's been three years since I've had contact with Mike and the dog," Rivera said.
Rivera was pleased to learn that Sasha appears to be on the road to recovery, but remains perplexed that Bell has denied any responsibility for the dog's current condition.
"I think that he's guilty, that he is responsible for the dog," Rivera said.
SPCA officials believe the dog went as long as a month without food, and was on its own for several months, bringing its weight down to about 55 pounds, well below the average for a female Rottweiler. They also believe the dog sustained itself on trash from inside the home.
Bell claimed on Friday he left the area for the West Coast almost two years ago -- only returning a few times to take care of some business, including his divorce -- and has not seen Sasha since he left. He said the dog was left in his cousin's care.
But Rivera said Bell moved back into their former Dare Avenue home this summer after having stayed with his parents for awhile.
Bell knew Sasha had gotten away from his cousin, and was back at the Dare Avenue home, according to Rivera.
Rivera said Bell was informed by his cousin's wife that Sasha had run away to return to their former home, and would not leave and needed to be fed.
She added that Bell told his cousin's wife to send his nephew over to the home to feed the dog, but it growled at the nephew, scaring him away.
"Mike should have (gone) home and (taken) care of Sasha," Rivera said. "Mike, knowing that the dog wasn't being fed that whole time, I think he should have been responsible and went back and fed it.
"He just left that dog to die. He should have at least called me to say, 'Lisa, do you want the dog?'" she added, noting Bell refused to give her the dog during divorce proceedings.
Not only does Rivera believe Bell should be held responsible for Sasha's condition, but she also believes he is lying about being out on the West Coast.
"I believe he's in the area," she said.
She, like the SPCA, just doesn't know where.
Rivera said she would be interested in adopting Sasha, as a number of others apparently are.
"I don't want her to be put to sleep," she said. "I don't want anything to happen to her." References« Back to Search Results
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