Man Charged In Case Of Extremely Emaciated Dog

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - An arrest has been made in the case of Effie, a 3-year old dog who was found extremely emaciated.

She was discovered inside a Homewood apartment on Jan. 21, after a pest control worker took a picture of her and contacted Western Pa. Humane Society.

Gerald Walker Jr., 19, turned himself in to the Municipal Courts Building Friday morning. He is charged with cruelty to animals.

Officials say what happened to Effie should never have gone on for so long.

"It's an innocent little dog, and she was treated like this. People saw her, and nobody called us to tell us to us that she looked like this for so long. So I say, 'if you see this please report it," said Mary Withrow with the Western Pa. Humane Society.

Effie required extensive medical care to save her life.

"Her body condition was – we rate them on a scale of 1 to 9 – her's was a 1. She could not be any thinner and still be with us," said veterinary Dr. Todd Blauvelt, medical director at the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society.

A recent update shows that Effie is improving and has a "pep in her step." The West Pa. Humane Society has described her as a "miracle dog."

This is a developing story, stay with KDKA and KDKA.com for more. 

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