Three dogs severely neglected
Greenfield, CA (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, May 24, 2006
County: Monterey
Disposition: Alleged
Abuser names unreleased
Five dogs found severely neglected at a Greenfield home were recovering under veterinary supervision at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Monterey County. A confidential report on May 24 led the SPCA's Humane Investigations Department to the dogs in Greenfield the next day, said Natasha McAllister, an SPCA investigations officer.
Three severely emaciated dogs, all boxers, had no access to food or water at the site. A fourth dog, a pit bull mix, was found entangled in a heavy, homemade anchor with less than a foot of chain left for movement. The fifth dog, a Corgi mix found tied to a pole, was in better condition than the other dogs. After care by SPCA staff, the dogs were on the mend Thursday, but the boxers' ribs stood out clearly beneath their skin. "The dogs are all under observation and are being fed and taken care of by our staff," McAllister said. "At this point, it does look promising for their recovery. They seem to be responding well."
The SPCA could press animal cruelty charges against the dogs' owner. The penalty for neglect of an animal by its owner is a misdemeanor that carries a punishment of up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, said Monterey County Chief Deputy District Attorney Terry Spitz.
SPCA officials said they hope people will come forward with information on the case, because two of the boxers could be seen from the street. Because of the ongoing investigation, SPCA officials would not disclose the exact location where the dogs were found. "We're hopeful the public can help us in this case and in any other case where they see a dog that is being abused or neglected," said Beth Brookhauser, SPCA director of community outreach. The Monterey County SPCA office receives about 65 reports of abuse or abandonment each month, McAllister said. "Unfortunately, this is not uncommon," she said. "In this case, these dogs were deprived of the most basic needs of water, food, shelter and necessary care."
SPCA officials said they hope the dogs recover and become available for adoption. References« CA State Animal Cruelty Map
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