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Malnourished Dog Expected To Survive

By Jessica Taloney Reporter

A severely malnourished dog is expected to survive, but the hound's owners could face charges as early as Tuesday. Malnourished Dog Expected To Survive

Published: Mon, May 12, 2008 - 7:25 pm Last Updated: Mon, May 12, 2008 - 7:27 pm

Jessica Taloney

A severely malnourished basset hound rescued Friday by animal control officers is expected to survive, despite being bone thin and hardly able to walk.
The dog was taken from a home on Drexel Drive in Theodore.
Officer Walter Johnson with Mobile County Animal Control filed a petition in District Court Monday to obtain custody of the animal on behalf of the county. Johnson says criminal charges could be filed as early as Tuesday.
Pictures taken by investigators show the dog's food bowl filled with dried leaves and dirt, and the animal's water bowl was filled with algae and flea eggs.
"This is the worst I have seen because I've never seen a dog this far gone," said Johnson.
Carmelo Miranda, another animal control officer, tells News Five the hound is infected with a serious case of whip worms, which was likely caused by eating the flea eggs.
Basset hounds typically weigh 40-50 pounds, but this dog only weighed 21 pounds.

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rmseek1234 Says:

Wed, Jul 02, 2008 at 2:17 pm

You are right. Thank goodness for people who do volunteer. I know they are not affiliated with the national SPCA. I know they get some funding through Maddie’s fund, and I believe the county commission has given them some in the past. I still think the best solution would be to have a centralized number-like the 311-to call reports of animal cruelty/abuse, and then let them assign it to the appropriate agency, and do follow up. Oh well, I can always have my dreams!

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carl Says:

Wed, Jul 02, 2008 at 6:33 am

I know, I shouldn’t be poking fun at the SPCA but I couldn’t resist. They probably have little or no money to operate on and probably are staffed by volunteers on a part time basis but the situation is sure discouraging some times. I think it would be Ideal to have a SPCA branch in every city or community of the county, But the logistics of that and having a main office would probably be way to heavy.

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rmseek1234 Says:

Tue, Jul 01, 2008 at 9:27 pm

Funny Carl! Has the SPCA actually saved a starving horse-that would be a first. I thought me and a couple of my friends were the only ones doing that, since we had failed previously to get the SPCA interested in abused animals! I’m just glad that someone (the Mobile County AC) filed the petition to take custody of the dog. They seem to be the only agency here in Mobile that will do more than counsel and give a slap on th wrist.

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carl Says:

Tue, Jul 01, 2008 at 8:45 pm

DHR needs to ride into the scene on one of those white horses the SPCA has been saving from starvation to check them kids out!

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Sammie12 Says:

Tue, Jul 01, 2008 at 5:40 pm

What’s the matter with those people.. how could they have let their children watch that dog starve to death.

They not only need to be arrested for animal cruelty, they need to be checked out by Child and Family Services.

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