Syracuse, N.Y. — A 42-year-old woman was charged with animal cruelty after her German sheperd was abandoned and forced to eat gravel to survive, police said.
Hortence Ngarissona abandoned her dog in the basement of a home on Delaware Street where police officers found it on May 4, according to the Syracuse Police Department.
The dog, now named Hope, had been eating gravel from the basement floor, police said.
The dog was taken to the Veterinary Medical Center of Central New York because she was so malnourished. They determined her body score was one out of nine, meaning she ranked the lowest on the scale, police said. She went into cardiac arrest and was revived, police said.
Ngarissona was charged with two counts of animal cruelty, police said. She was released on an appearance ticket, police said.
Donations are being raised for Hope’s medical expenses, police said.
Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or [email protected].
