Animal clinic criticized over neglected dog
Published: May 07, 2009, 12:30 am
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State officials are being asked to look into the case of badly neglected dog that lay for 24 hours without care on the doorstep of an animal clinic on Buffalo’s East Side.
The male cocker spaniel, about 3 years old, is receiving emergency treatment at the SPCA Serving Erie County shelter in the Town of Tonawanda after being picked up by the SPCA late Wednesday morning outside the Anderson Inner City Animal Hospital at Fillmore and Kensington avenues.
“We got the call from the Anderson veterinary hospital right after we got a call from Channel 7,” said Barbara Carr, executive director of the SPCA. A viewer had called the television station about the dog, she noted.
Carr said the dog, which was wearing a collar with rhinestones but had no identification, was severely malnourished and dehydrated, suffering from kidney malfunction, and its hair was severely matted. Ordinarily a 25-pound dog, it weighed only 7 pounds, she said.
Upon arriving at the shelter, the cocker spaniel was given intravenous fluids and vitamins, Carr said. She reported that it was beginning to show signs of improvement later Wednesday. She said its condition is “guarded.”
The SPCA also trimmed the dog’s severely matted hair.
Carr said the SPCA has been unable to reach anyone in the Anderson clinic but noted that staff members told TV reporters that they didn’t want to bring the dog inside because they feared it was suffering from a contagious condition.
The staff told TV reporters they had called Buffalo animal control officers Tuesday but the dog hid when they arrived.
“Apparently it had enough energy then to run away,” Carr said. “It’s not unusual when they see people in uniforms.”
Carr faulted the veterinary clinic staff for not calling the SPCA sooner if they did not intend to treat the ailing animal. She said she had asked the office of professional discipline at the state Department of Education to investigate.
“A simple phone call would have made this so much easier to deal with,” she said. “Twentyfour hours would have made such a difference.”
danderson@buffnews.com
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