MSPCA Law Enforcement Department Offers $1,000 Reward for Information Leading to Animal Cruelty Conviction
BOSTON, Aug. 15, 2019 – The condition of an emaciated dog brought to the MSPCA’s Angell Animal Medical Center at the end of July shocked even hardened veterinarians accustomed to seeing sick and dying animals every day of every week.
The dog was brought to Angell at approximately 10:00 p.m. on July 30 by two individuals who found him in Canton, Mass. near the Massasoit Community College campus.
Severely Emaciated and Hypothermic
The dog, now named “Glitch,” is an approximately one-year-old Pit Bull mix who weighed only 15 lbs. when he first arrived, an astounding 35 lbs. less than a healthy dog his age. And despite this summer’s record-setting heat, he was hypothermic when he was first brought to Angell.
The MSPCA’s Law Enforcement Department is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to a felony animal cruelty conviction.
“This is one of the worst cases of neglect I have ever seen,” said Dr. Maria Brandifino, who examined the dog in Angell’s Emergency & Critical Care Unit. “When he arrived my first thought was: how could he have even survived this?”
Glitch was hunched over so completely that Dr. Brandifino believes he spent most if not all of his life confined to a tiny cage.
He was immediately started on intravenous fluids and was slowly administered food, which he consumed as rapidly as he could. “We’ve had to place him on a rigid refeeding protocol to ensure he doesn’t gain too much weight too soon, which itself can be very dangerous,” said Dr. Brandifino. “But the bottom line is that someone nearly starved this dog to death.”
MSPCA Law Enforcement Seeks those Responsible
The MSPCA’s Law Enforcement Department has opened a cruelty investigation and is seeking the public’s help in identifying anyone who may have owned the dog. The dog is mostly black with dark brown eyes and white patches on his paws and muzzle. He wore no identification tags and is not microchipped.
Anyone with information about the dog is urged to call MSPCA Law Enforcement at 800-628-5808.
Any donations that the MSPCA may receive above and beyond the $1,000 reward will be used for ongoing anti-cruelty investigations.
Animal cruelty is a felony crime in Massachusetts punishable by up to seven years in state prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
Glitch’s Road Ahead
Glitch has been moved into foster care, where his recovery can be closely monitored. He remains on a carefully managed refeeding schedule and the veterinarians involved in his care are confident he will recover completely.
Once he is recovered, Glitch will be placed for adoption and the MSPCA will announce those details in the weeks ahead.
