Owner Of Emaciated Dog 'Effie' Receives 18 Months Probation
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The owner of a dog found severely emaciated has been found guilty of animal cruelty.
Effie weighed just fourteen pounds when she arrived at the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society January 21st. Director Mary Withrow said the pit bull, rescued from an apartment in Homewood, looked like a skeleton when she arrived.
Owner Gerald Walker was found guilty of animal cruelty on Thursday and was sentenced to 18 months probation. Walker must also pay a $1,000 fine and is prohibited from caring for any domestic animal while on probation.
"The outcome of this case is a huge win for the people who have cared for Effie and were there with her through her recovery, and most of all, for Effie herself. It is also a win for the animal welfare community and hopefully is a testament to progression in the judicial system when it comes to animal abuse and cruelty. Not all cases end up like this. Let's stop animal cruelty before it takes an animals life by reporting it," Said Hala Nuemah, Managing Director at the Western PA Humane Society.
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Meanwhile, Effie has made a full recovery and is ready for adoption.
This is a developing story, stay with KDKA and KDKA.com for more information.