Andrea Rosebrock 
This story absolutely defies all logic! Cola, a pit bull, was left abandoned in a house at 3405 N. Michigan, Saginaw, MI, a year ago when his owner moved out April 2007. I first brought this sad story to you in August of 2007, and then he’d already been abandoned for four months!
The owner’s girlfriend would occasionally stop by to feed the poor dog, not too often as you can see from his emaciated condition, but seldom was the dog ever let out of the house for exercise. The house was covered in filth and reeked of waste.
Since last May, neighbors have begged and pleaded with Saginaw County Animal Care Center to help. In June of 2007 Saginaw County Animal Care Center Director Mark Wachner said center staff members inspected the house but could cite the owner only for not having a dog license, not animal cruelty since the dog appears to be well fed. In August neighbors Rose King, 55, with her daughter Rebecca, 10, and another neighbor, Samantha Burkey, 10, picketed the house to draw attention to the plight of the dog. They carried signs asking drivers to honk if you want to ’save the dog.’
Now, after eight more long months in solitary confinement, the poor dog has finally been rescued!
“It was constantly barking,” neighbor Kellie Burkey said. “But it hardly barks now. It doesn’t have the energy. It has to be close to dead by now, with bones sticking out and sores on its legs.
“I called everyone, but no one wanted to deal with it. It’s sad to wait until it gets to this point before anyone do anything about it.”
Peeking through the house’s windows, neighbors could see that Cola had shredded the remaining furniture and was living in its filth. A rank odor hung over the residence.
A neighbor called police Thursday morning. Carrollton Township Police Officer Kip J. Humpert contacted the house’s owner and advised him to visit the house. The owner never showed.
After obtaining a warrant, Animal Care Center Director Mark A. Wachner and officers broke down the front door, releasing a stench. Officers led a docile Cola, emaciated and shaking, outside, where he vigorously drank several bowls of water.
While inspecting the house, officers discovered several books and magazines on dog fighting.
Wachner said a veterinarian will evaluate Cola’s health.
“We’ll see what condition he’s in, then go from there,” he said.
Whether the owner will face charges, Wachner said, will depend on the veterinarian’s diagnosis.
“It’s a cruelty case,” he said. “We’ll pursue it. There’s a lot to do yet, and the investigation is still pending.”
Carrollton Township also will determine whether to cite the owner for code violations.
Regardless of the legal ramifications, neighbors are glad Cola is gone.“The neighborhood kids are going to be so happy to have him out of there,” Rose King said. (mlive.com)
This whole thing just boggles the mind! Yes, laws are laws and are in place for a reason but to leave any living creature to suffer for a year is unconscionable, especially when caring and concerned neighbors did anything and everything they could do to try to get authorities to rescue this poor dog. He could have died and no doubt his spirit died a little more every day.
Laws need to change when something like this can occur! There is no excuse for that poor dog to have been abandoned for a year! The owner should face serious charges but most likely this will be just another case of ’slap on the wrist’ mentality and he will face little punishment.
I blame the authorities on this too. After constant complaining by the neighbors they still didn’t do anything for, what, 8 months?? Um…who’s right brain wasn’t talking to the left brain.
We have owner problems, but we also have the problems with the *persons* who are officers. I see too much of it and it pisses me off. GAD, I hope I get to be a judge in my next life. They’ll be appending my official title with “Hang ‘em High”.
Oh hell, i would have broken in a back window or something and taken the dog the day i knew the owners were gone! There is NO sense in watching this poor soul starve to almost death! What is wrong with people?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Chris, I would have too..and we would probably get arrested for it…I have no confidence in the authorities…
AIR, I’ll be ready with my rope when and if that day comes.
I agree, would of trespassed. If I were a neighbor I simply could not of stood by every day. I pray he has some spirit left to recover.
What has this world come to…..I could have never been a neighbor and watch this happen everyday….never….I would have done something to save this dog….even if it was to put food/water through a window??
So sad…..
That dog would have “disappeared” long ago. I can’t see how the laws can be so vague and heartless, and the authorities so cruel. I also cannot see how any person with this knowledge could let it go on.
Well I understand the neighbors were “”concerned”" and it’s kind they tried to have it removed but surely any!!!!!!! person with the slightest compassion would have broken in and taken/rescued the dog immediately you realise the neighbors have moved out. I will never understand the human race.
Just look at the dog’s eyes in the close up above! That alone made me cry. There has got to be a special place in hell for people capable of such cruelty. It would be run by, and guarded by, the spirits of dogs treated this way by those held there! Maybe, if those spirits really work at it, they can be angry long enough to get past their unconditional love!
did this dog ever get adopted…..????
@roseanna – Roseanna, the last update I’ve been able to find is what I wrote on the 24th – Abandoned for a Year, Owner Now Wants Dog Back – VIDEO. Here’s a quote from an article a day later;
I have not been able to find anything else. I will update the story if and when I do.
Deanna
@roseanna – Found another update from May. Bottom line is it looks like Cola will stay at Saginaw County Animal Care Center until his owner’s, Jamie S. McGregor, case is settled. Then he will either be returned to McGregor based on the outcome… or he will be euthanized.
I would guess that the trial is over now and decisions have been made but I haven’t been able to find any follow-up as of yet. It’s a sad story and doubtful it will have a happy ending for Cola. Either he goes back to the person who abandoned him in the first place…. or he dies.
Thanks Deanna, but that is the saddest, most heartlessly cruel, and ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Now I am almost sorry that I asked because I will not forget Cola. This is where and why some rescue people just take dogs…that seems to be the only way to save them. Someone posted a comment concerning the look on his face and it is truly a look of ‘how could this have happened…how could you do this to me’…this is not a vicious animal. What happened is a sin. Adopting out is one thing…releasing to a sanctuary is another completely. It is sickening to see the high paid officials take the easy way out and face no consequences for their actions. They release child molesters and murderers out on bail and think nothing of it. They face no consequences when those people cause havoc again but a pit bull..oh that must be immediately destroyed. Hardly seems like america does it….and we petition other countries for their cruel practices…we need to clean up our own backyard too. Thanks again for the followup.
See the latest update on Cola – HERE