The Denver Animal Shelter is seeing a troubling rise in animal neglect cases, with a growing number of pets arriving dangerously underweight and weak.
By the beginning of June, the shelter had investigated 83 cases of neglect this year because of weight in pets , such as dogs and cats. This marks a 30% increase compared with the same period last year.
“It is a startling, unsettling sight that might stop many of us in our tracks. Animals with hip bones protruding through their fur, ribs sharply visible, so weak they can barely stand,” said Denver Animal Protection in a Wednesday news release.
DAP provides animal care and protection services for all of Denver County. DAP operates the Denver Animal Shelter, an open-admissions shelter that is home to nearly 10,000 lost and abandoned pets each year.
In March, a 1-year-old boxer puppy named Piccolino, also known as Pickles, was brought to the shelter by a good Samaritan. He weighed only 26 pounds and was in a severely emaciated state, with the lowest possible body condition score.
A DAS vet discovered a bowel obstruction from a toy that he likely had eaten out of hunger.
However, Pickles wasn’t the only starved animal the shelter encountered this year. Two-year-old Donatello, 6-year-old Azul and 3-year-old Pippi arrived at the shelter needing urgent medical care.
Veterinarian Claire Vaiden said cases such as these are heartbreaking, and the animals are so hungry that they will eat anything.
“Pickles ate a toy. Donatello ate mulch, plastic and a rock. This causes them to get even sicker,” Vaiden said.
Pickles and Donatello required emergency surgery to remove the foreign objects. However, both dogs were fighters and pulled through, Vaiden said. Azul and Pippi also are recovering.
After nearly two months of medical care and time in a Denver Animal Shelter foster home, Pickles gained nearly 20 pounds. He was adopted in May at 45 pounds.
The shelter said medical care can be intense as veterinarians must put the pups on a refeeding plan and gradually reintroduce food into their diets.
If a dog were suddenly refed, it could lead to refeeding syndrome, which causes imbalances in electrolytes, fluids and vitamins, leading to serious complications such as respiratory distress, neurological dysfunction, muscle weakness and even death.
The shelter said some former owners are facing citations or charges for neglect because starving an animal in Denver is a crime punishable by up to 300 days in jail and fines up to $999.
However, even though there is an increase in emaciated animals, there are still ways to get involved, including calling DAP at 720-913-2080 to report it.
If you find an emaciated dog, bring it to a veterinarian or animal shelter. You can also join a foster program or donate to the animal shelter.
Denver-area residents also can show support by joining a foster program or donating to the shelter.
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