According to the rescue agency, Rocky is now 54 lbs and is doing very well. As a result of yesterday's Observer article (see below for reprint), a former neighbor of Rocky's called to tell me more about his horrible life. Apparently, Rocky was physically abused also and was kept in a cage in the owner's basement when he was brought into the house. When outside, the owner would toss his food on the ground in his feces ridden pen. The cruelty investigator paid a visit at the beginning of the summer and didn't find anything wrong at the time. The neighbor had also called the police and got nowhere.

So many opportunities were passed by to help this dog but no help came except by accident.

How many others will die in a similar situation?

Hopefully, this gets people talking and encourages them to share their stories and concerns. The more people talk about it the more likely change will come about. So many of us are frustrated and clueless about what to do. There's just got to be some legal intervention, otherwise people are free to continue on as they are.

Penny

Pet awareness education said needed

By JULIE SPEARS, OBSERVER Staff Writer

“It's time to start pushing for education, awareness and prosecution.”

1/8/2007 - Penny Gummo, an advocate of the National Dogs Deserve Better, would like to see a push made to educate and increase awareness, as well as bring neglectful pet owners to prosecution.

“It's time to start pushing for education, awareness and prosecution. If you really want to get serious and work on this problem, please let me know, I'll be glad to get some help,” Gummo said.

In recent months, pets have been abandoned in homes after owners move and kittens have been abandoned at various locations in the city of Dunkirk.

Gummo shares one success story for an emaciated purebred boxer that now has a happy and loving home.

Gummo, a Dunkirk resident, would like to see negligent pet owners prosecuted. The vagueness of negligence laws leaves owners without any significant consequences for their actions and she would like to see more done.

“This was a dog that looked more like a dead carcass than a living creature. He was all skin and bones; every rib, every vertebrae, and his pelvis stuck out from his body. The owner told us that he thought boxers were supposed to be thin,” Gummo said.

According to Gummo, the owner admitted he and his family were never home and he wanted to find a better situation for the pet. Although the owner was encouraged to take the dog to the veterinarian for an infected wound and dramatic weight loss, the advice was not heeded.

The Humane Society was contacted and further research into the situation done.

“At this point, I thought the guy was negligent but not that he was actually starving this dog. We thought the dog had to be ill,” Gummo said.

Chris Dillenberg, also with Dogs Deserve Better, was contacted by the owner to pick up the dog. She took him to the vet only to learn that the dog was severely dehydrated.

Once in Chris’ care he gained 9-pounds the first week “and went from nervous pacing to happy excitement whenever he saw anyone.”

A Canadian rescue friend found a foster home with a retired couple who “were happy to take him, nurture him, and bring him back to health. “

“He would surely have died without intervention. Their was no one to step in or step up,” Gummo said.

During November, several kittens were abandoned.

Kittens found in a field by the Lord Street Railroad tracks were taken in by a couple in Arkwright who had two nursing cats after being fed with a dropper. Three found by UPS were taken by Lakeshore Humane Society. Two of the five survived.

“These people have many cats--strays, damaged, cast-offs. They provide food, shelter and vet care for the unwanted with no help whatsoever,” Gummo said.

The couple goes through about 25 lbs. of cat food a day and have been taking them to the vets for shots and spay/neuter.

“They're both hard-working folks with a clean home and healthy cats. They didn't hesitate to help when asked to save these 2 orphans yet they're not an "official" rescue,” Gummo said.

Gummo is asking community to help the couple care for these cats, feline health care and with finding homes.

Individuals willing to assist through donations of food or monetary or other assistance may contact Gummo at 680-2202.

To have your pet spayed or neutered, the Lakeshore Humane Society has grant funds available to assist and will be distributed on a first come first serve basis.