“She was obviously in need of medical grooming. Her coat was matted to the point of not being groomed for several months. The coat was so overgrown that she had difficulty walking and just getting around,” Animal Control Officer Angelique Fitzmorris instructed News 12, including it appeared the canine hadn’t been to a veterinarian in years. “Even if her coat was fine, still, senior dogs need a lot more care.”
Abby additionally had sores on her physique, was severely underweight along with her ribs protruding and her ears have been considerably and chronically contaminated, based on STARS.
Fitzmorris stated Animal Control first received concerned after a name from an area vet, who’d needed to put a canine down that was in dangerous form. The vet knew the canine’s proprietor had one other pet at home, Abby, and was involved about what form she could be in, so officers paid the proprietor a go to and decided Abby was a transparent case of neglect.
“No matter what the owner wants or how badly they might love the animals, it was just a case of—it needed, you know, immediate medical intervention,” Fitzmorris defined.
Abby is now being fostered after being groomed and spending time on the vet, however she is going to want ongoing visits.
Her proprietor was charged with animal cruelty. Barbara Baldino appeared in court docket final week, visibly upset. The prosecutor stated it’s anticipated she’ll face a second cost for the canine that was put down.
“I definitely see where people have the love for their animals, and I think in this case there was maybe a thought that the animal was in the right place. But because we’re the advocate for the animals, when we see them in that condition, we know that’s not the right place for them if the owner can’t provide what they need,” Fitzmorris stated.
For now, Abby will not be up for adoption, however Fitzmorris instructed News 12 the hope is she shall be.
“There’s a lot of people out there that love senior dogs in the first place and their heart kind of expands when they see a dog that’s in need like that, so I do think we could find her a really good home once we do gain custody,” Fitzmorris said.
