Dog Starved Almost to Death, Rescued Just in Time

Kamilah Hodges, 29, of 188 Quincy St., Springfield, MA, was arrested and charged with felony animal abuse after authorities rescued Oliver, a 2 yr old pitbull from a cage in her basement. Oliver, reduced to skin and bones, weighed only 36 lbs, about half of what he should have weighed and was covered in feces and urine.

“The owner admitted it was her dog and she was adamant she fed the dog and there was nothing wrong with it,” arresting officer Christine B. Allenberg, of the Massachusetts Society of Cruelty to Animals Law Enforcement Department says.

Look at that dog!! If that woman thinks ‘there was nothing wrong with it’ maybe she should be placed in the same circumstances and see how it is! Is she brain damaged or just plain stupid!?

Barbara L. Hays, executive director of the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Care Center where Oliver is recovering, said that “there is no way of knowing how long Oliver had been neglected and without food. It could have been weeks.”

Allenberg said that it could have been months but both agree that Oliver would not have lasted much longer.

Allenberg also says this is not a first for Hodges. She was arrested in December 2004 under the same charges, becoming the first person in Massachusetts charged under the state’s newly get-tough animal cruelty law.

“The hardest part of this job is looking into the faces of these animals because they are so grateful,” says Allenberg.

In that case it was another pit bull, Piglet, and he had been denied veterinary care for treatment of mange. When found, Piglet had lost most of its fur, and its body was covered with large patches of exposed, raw and inflamed flesh.

For that charge of animal cruelty, Hodges was given a suspended six-month jail sentence and one year probation for animal cruelty. Piglet eventually recovered and has since been adopted by a wonderful family, Allenberg said.

Now with this latest felony charge, she faces up to 5 years in prison and a $2,500 fine.

If it was up to me it would be a heck of a lot longer than 5 years,” says Allenberg

“We want the community to know if you do this to your animal we are going to find you,” says Hays.

“It’s a happy ending” for Oliver, she said. “He’s lucky they got him out when they did or we never would have known about it.” she said.

When Oliver was found, he couldn’t even walk and had to be carried from his hellhole of a prison. He is still very weak, he has regained the strength to walk gingerly and endure endless care and affection from staff and visitors.

“I don’t know how a dog stays that pleasant when the situation was so bad,” Hays said. She said it will take at least a month to put some meat on Oliver’s bones, by when he should be ready for adoption.

“We’ll be looking for a home that will absolutely love him this time around,” she said.

I have to agree with Allenberg, she need more than 5 years and out of common decency, I am going to refrain from say what I think she really does need!

See the video – CLICK HERE 

Source – The Republican, CBS3

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