Andrea Rosebrock 
In April I did a story on a dog that was so starved that his bones were literally protruding from his skin. Just looking at the pictures brought me to tears. Well, now his picture may still bring tears to your eyes but they will be tears of joy!
Meet Shamus today. Only about 5 months ago this sweet boy, an Irish Wolfhound/Sheepdog mix, weighed all of 35 lbs, 1/4 of what he should have weighed. Now he’s up to a reputable and healthy 120 lbs and what a beautiful boy he is too!! And the best part of the story, Shamus is just about ready for adoption, to find his forever home with a wonderful loving family in about two weeks.
After emergency veterinarian care at two local clinics, the dog was brought to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Animal Safehouse in the First Avenue Jail.
Female inmates nursed him around the clock for
several months, feeding him, giving him required medications and daily visits to the MASH dog park atop the downtown jail.
He has fully recovered, gets along with other dogs and is housebroken.
Inmates say his only downfall is that he loves to drink water from a toilet.
Now for the sad part; the man who owned Shamus, the sick bastard who abused this dog to literal skin and bones, oh yes, he was found guilty but do you know the extent of his sentence? Yup, yet another slap on 
the wrist…William White, is now on probation after serving 12 days in jail and cannot own any animals for the next 18 months. (ABC15)
12 DAYS IN JAIL!! And in 18 months he will be able to own another pet!! Unbelievable!! Shamus spents months in the prison of his starved body, hunger gnawing at him day after day. Desperately scrounging for food.
Look at this face…. remember this face… this is the man who so cruelly starved this dog. Doesn’t look like he missed too many meals. Now look at the picture above of Shamus, a living skeleton, and yes, that is his hipbone busted through the skin.
I tell ya right now, the justice system in this country needs a major overhaul when scum like this can practically get away with doing what he did and then be able to do out and get another dog and maybe do the same or even worse, although I am sure there were times that is Shamus were capable of thinking it, he would rather had been dead. Sick bastard!! JUSTICE WAS NOT SERVED!!
I tell ya right now, the justice system in this country needs a major overhaul when scum like this can practically get away with doing what he did and then be able to do out and get another dog and maybe do the same or even worse, although I am sure there were times that is Shamus were capable of thinking it, he would rather had been dead.
Crap!!Another wrist slap…..Sadly,I have almost come to expect these…It’s ridiculous…No one that is capable of doing this should ever be able to have another animal…IMO…and the 12 days in jail…laughable…but there’s nothing funny about it..At least Shamus is safe, healthy and out of pain now..
Sometimes I jusy get to the point where I feel I just can’t read anymore. Right now I have broken down in tears hearing that another cruel person just got away with one of the worst crimes immaginable. It just tears me apart inside to think that our laws are so outdated that this is the best we can do?
@Kerry – Couldn’t agree more Kerry, but like you said, at least Shamus is safe, happy and healthy now. It may not seem like enough but for him, it’s everything.
@Vicki T – In this case, try to concentrate on Shamus and how wonderful he’s doing and the fact that he will have a wonderful chance very soon. I know that’s it’s difficult to overlook the the inadequacies of the justice system, but at least Shamus was saved and that piece of trash’s pic and name are well published! Concentrate on the positive because too often there isn’t even that, this time there is.
we need a wall of shame for animal abusers…i say it again so that no unknowing girl falls in love with this guy..so no one hires him in any animal facility…so no one gives, sells, or rescues another animal to this creature….or anyone like him…..