Neglected pets should not be given back to their abusers

On Sunday, June 28, I received a call from someone who had gotten my number via the animal welfare volunteer work I do. The person in question called me, and, in tears, told me that her neighbors had not been at their home in a month and other people had heard barking. The person had gone up to investigate, and found two dogs and a cat in very poor condition. The cat had enough dead tissue on its leg from an animal bite to expose muscle once the dead tissue was removed. Both dogs were in poor shape.

One dog, of a very hearty breed, though skin and bones, seemed to be mentally intact. He had three feet of chain to move around on, and no visible food or water except what the neighbors had put out that morning. He was bleeding profusely because an impromptu pen had been created out of a roll of wire fencing and a woodpile full of nails. He could not reach his doghouse, even if he wanted to. His dew claws were hanging, and he had many rotten teeth. His first stool sample was nothing but mud and bark.

The other dog was in worse shape, having been left in a large pen on a hill with little shade, and no water or food except what the neighbors told me they had brought that morning. She was so malnourished she could not stand, and her heartbeat was so weak that the outlook for her was grim. All that was in the pen with her were rags and old buckets, and a pile of kibble that was so moldy that it barely resembled kibble any more.

I took both animals into my possession, as is my right under ORC law 1717.13, and performed medical care on all of them as best as I could. None of the animals would have survived a trip to an emergency clinic in Parkersburg or Lancaster. I took photos and statements from all involved, and got the names of the former occupants of the trailer to include in the statements.

While trying to get hold of The Athens County Sheriff's Office, I was informed one of the dogs was not breathing. I rushed outside and performed canine resuscitation on her, but despite that, she died. She had nothing left to give and was so malnourished that water was probably too much of a shock to her system. I spoke with the county's humane officer, who instructed me to bring everything to the dog shelter the next day when they opened - statements, photos, audio, the carcass, and the living cat and dog.

I believe that before the humane officer had any chance to look at these documents, the owners came to claim their animals. While I do think that this was a matter of hands being tied, I also believe those animals should NOT have been surrendered. The owners showed up with a bunch of friends who claimed they had been up there to feed and water them, but the condition of the animals alone should have been enough to allow the humane officer to say no, and the photos of the conditions they were kept in should have been even more proof.

I was told by the humane officer that she would get back to me within 7-10 days, and would visit these individuals. I have not heard from the humane officer since, despite leaving multiple messages.

It's a small town and people talk, and I have heard that this is not the first time these people have been cruel to their animals. I will not repeat what I have heard, as I have not witnessed it and do not wish to slander or hurt the reputation of anyone. But I simply feel I cannot let this go, and would like, if not justice, to encourage people to learn how to take care of their pets properly.

When a dog is so starved you can count all of his ribs, and his tail is docked improperly so it gives him pain every time he moves it, that is not responsible pet ownership - that's cruelty and neglect.

I don't know if the county officials are advocating this by giving these animals back to their abusers, but it sure appears that way, at least from my experience.