Severely Emaciated Dog "Stable," Growing "Stronger"
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Things are looking up for a severely emaciated dog officers say was "tortured," according to an update from the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society.
On Friday, the Humane Society posted to Facebook that a rescued dog named Effie is still in the hospital, but is stable.
"She had to get some fluids yesterday but continues to grow stronger," the post read.
On Wednesday, an update said she was eating a little bit more each day, and that she was "hanging in there."
The 3-year-old pitbull mix was rescued last week, after a pest control serviceman saw her in a Homewood apartment. He sent a picture of the skin-and-bones dog to the Humane Society.
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When Effie was brought to the Humane Society she only weighed 23 pounds. A dog her age and size should weigh between 50 to 60 pounds.
"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.
Police have not released much information about the dog's owner except to say he's a 19-year-old male, and that the do intend to press charges.
The Humane Society hopes Effie's story will encourage people to contact their state lawmakers to get on board H.B. 113 so that, says the Humane Society's Mary Withrow, "If you commit a crime against an animal, you will pay. It will be a misdemeanor that comes with a criminal record and you do it again, you're now a felon. Your second count, you become a felon. That's a life changer."