Pitiful story from Cleveland

[rottnkidd]

A neighbor gave me an issue of last wks Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper. In the Metro section was a heartbreaking story of
a 3 yr old male Rottweiler that froze to death last week. A concerned neighbor called because the temps had only been in the teens and the night before the dog was discovered, the temp dropped to 9. This poor dog was actually frozen to the ground. Pitiful. Apparently the couple that owned the dog also own a GSD. Both dogs were chained to a fence in the rear yard, with no food, water or shelter. Both dogs were emaciated, and the Rottie succumbed to the enviromental conditions. The 9 yr old GSD was taken by Animal Control and will not be returned to the owners. They're both being charged with animal cruelty, which unfortunately in Ohio is a misdemeanor. These people were professionals, living in an older, upscale community. How deplorable is that? They had the gall to state that they took good care of these dogs, that they "fed them a homemade diet and gave them vitamins", as if THAT alone would make them good owners. They also insisted that the dog was poisoned by a neighbor, however, a necropsy performed at Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab of the Ohio Dept of Agriculture, showed the dog was "anemic, emaciated and froze to death." I was really upset by the story and promptly wrote a letter to the editor. I've yet to see it show up in the paper. I hope this poor boy, who suffered such a painful death, is warm, fed and happy at the Bridge.
kathy

[KatMc]

That is indeed sickening. I suppose if I had one question - why did the concerned neighbor wait so long to call if the dogs had been out there w/no food, water or shelter.

At least the GSD will hopefully find a loving home.

Kathy

[rottnkidd]

Exactly! In my letter-to-the-editor I made mention of that also.
There's no excuse for what happened to this dog...none.
kathy

[LORHEL]

I pray for peace for this poor boy, may he be eternally warm and loved with his new friends at the bridge. Some people just don't make good humans.

[toobad]

Thats too bad. I think that all states should have tougher laws. If that dog did something wrong to a human people would be calling for the dogs head and want him put to sleep. Why should it be any different when a human does that to a animal. Maybe we should sneak over there and sabatoge the peoples furnace so they know what it feels like.

[AimeeMB]

What the h**l is wrong with people???? I cannot imagine what that poor rottie must have went through. Perhaps the people that chained him to the fence need to experience exactly what those poor dogs did!!!!

[Jaegergirl]

i live outside of cleveland but only get the newspaper on sundays (and only get it for the sale fliers and coupons). i found the article in the plain dealer archives....
http://www.cleveland.com/search/inde...2620.xml?cleve

i like how the wife said she didn't thing the dog died from the cold. give me a break! she should be chained outside and see how long she lasts!

[rottnkidd]

Jaegergirl - Thanks for posting the actual article. There was also a story on the news this past wk, from Portage County about a woman that surrendered her 2 Pit Bulls to a couple of men that came to her door, posing as Portage Cty Animal Control officers.
Unfortunately I didn't hear the beginning of the story, so I don't know exactly what they told this woman were their reasons, I only know they had 'fake' documents that read the dogs were to be seized! The papers even had the Portage Cty Animal Control logo and looked 'official'. How scary is that? The men told her that she can call the dog warden in 48 hours to retrieve her dogs. She called and the warden's office had NO IDEA what she was talking about. As of this past Friday an anonymous donor had put up $500 in reward money for the safe return of these dogs. It's very apparent the dogs were taken to be trained for the fight ring. It's another sad story, as these were very friendly companions to this woman, but my first thought was she should've called the dog warden to verify this activity. I personally would NEVER surrender my dog to anyone showing up at my door! I hope the dogs can be safely returned, but it's probably too late already.
kathy

[Jaegergirl]

here's the link to that article...

http://www.cleveland.com/search/inde...6340.xml?cleve

that's terrible! i don't trust many people so i wouldn't surrender my dog either without contacting whatever agency the people claimed to be from.

geez, neither our kid nor our dogs are safe!!

[KRISSIE]

Wow, Both of these stories are just horrible. :( The one with that poor frozen dog is just sickening, how could someone leave there dog out in temp like that . Outside dogs or not, they are living breathing creatures that feel pain, to think that the freezeing cold would not affect them is ignorant and heartless. What really gets me is that she stated that the dog cost 600.00 so they would not have allowed him to die . How sad that they measure this dogs worth by how much they spent on him.:( I hope the poor baby is warm, safe and loved now that he is at the bridge and free from his CRUEL & HEARTLESS owners. :(

[ladawn]

Humor me and let's presume that the dog did NOT die by freezing to death (which must be a horrible way to die ) and was "poisoned". Does that mean that it isn't animal cruelty to leave your "beloved, $600 pet" in freezing weather, tied to a fence with no shelter? How can they even think about fighting this charge? Because you've done it before and the dog was just fine before, does it make it any less wrong? Am I crazy? Or is she ?