Case Details

Dog neglected, teeth filed down
Des Moines, IA (US)

Date: Mar 28, 2006
County: Polk
Disposition: Not Charged

Abuser names unreleased

Case ID: 8498
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment, Mutilation/Torture
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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The puppy was so thin it couldn't walk. It had bloodshot eyes, a broken leg and its teeth had been filed down. The injuries shocked West Des Moines police officers, who worked quickly to rescue the animal after the abuse was reported. Police took the Airedale puppy from its owner March 28. The owner had filed down the puppy's teeth so she would not get bitten and did not feed or give water to the dog, investigators said. The animal had sores and blood on it when police found it. "The dog's well-being was of the utmost concern to us," Sgt. Jody Hayes said.

The puppy's owner was not charged with animal abuse or neglect after she agreed to immediately turn over the dog to police, Hayes said. "We wanted the dog in our possession immediately," he said. "We wanted her to sign the dog over to us. Otherwise we were going to have to turn the dog back over to her until the judge said the dog could be taken away."

The puppy has spent the past month at the Ashworth Road Animal Hospital to recover and gain weight. The dog was severely malnourished and weighed half of its recommended 30 pounds. The animal hospital performed most of the treatment for free. That included a splint on the puppy's leg. The national Airedale Terrier Rescue and Adoption program took possession of the puppy, called St. Nick because he was born on Christmas day, in late April. Nick was adopted last week by a family in Colorado, said Andrea Egeland, one of Iowa's co-coordinators for the national program.

Egeland said Nick's abuse was one of the most extreme cases she had seen, but that the animal was fortunate because it was only 3 months old when the abuse occurred. Nick's damaged teeth were baby teeth, and he likely won't remember the abuse because of his age, she said. "He's going to be just fine," Egeland said. "As much as she did to him, he's really got everything going for him now. He has no fear of people. He's the most loving puppy."

References

DesMoines Register - May 11, 2006



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