Dog neglected and abandoned
Paterson, NJ (US)

Incident Date: Friday, May 6, 2005
County: Passaic

Disposition: Open

Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Someone reportedly tied a severely matted dog with a leash to the front gate of the Paterson Animal Shelter.

John DeCando, chief animal control officer in Paterson, was stumped when he saw him. "I didn't know what it was. ... I couldn't tell the back from the front," DeCando said.

The dog's hair was so severely matted into giant, rock-hard clumps, the pup couldn't eat out of one side of his mouth or see out of one eye.

"You can't find a place where he isn't thickly matted, including his tail," shelter worker Mike Rodriguez said. "When he goes to the bathroom or walks, he has trouble because the matted hair is there."

The dog went to a vet and was shaved - his past a mystery that DeCando is determined to solve. He's asking for tips - anonymous or not - from anyone who recognizes the dog.

If you have information on this case, please contact:
John DeCando

References

• « NJ State Animal Cruelty Map
  « More cases in Passaic County, NJ

  Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.
  
  For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.