HAMDEN, Conn. — An animal shelter in Hamden needs the public’s help as it continues to provide around the clock care for a dog, which was on the brink of death when found last month.
Those who work at Where the Love Is Animal Rescue posted about the case on Facebook, calling it, “One of the most extreme cases of animal cruelty we've ever seen.”
“As far as my time here, this is the first time that we’ve actually had a case like this come to us, where we had to just immediately start acting,” said Julia Pisani, Foster and Adoption coordinator for Where the Love is Animal Rescue.
Pisani said the shelter was informed by other animal advocates about the living conditions of Ryder, an eight-year-old pit bull mix, toward the end of October. Shelter workers then immediately visited the Hamden house and brought the dog under their care.
“It is believed that she was left outside with little to no shelter, based on her condition, for a length of time. [She] clearly had not been fed,” Pisani said.
Pisani said Ryder was found emaciated and dehydrated and was rushed to Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine right away. It was there that a serious wound was discovered on her hind leg, which burst.
“She spent all of her time at the hospital in the ICU, trying to get her to a stable point and being really cautious of potential infection,” Pisani said.
On Monday, Ryder was released from the hospital. Now, she’s at home with a foster family but returns back to the vet every two days.
“Now, she’s starting to have a little bit more of a personality come out, but all good things. I mean she had her first bark and she is up and walking; she’s able to support her weight. Her tail wags nonstop,” Pisani said.
The case is similar to dozens of others seen across the state lately, according to those at Desmond’s Army Animal Law Advocates.
“The amount of animals being abandoned is unfathomable,” said Linda Pleva, vice president and treasurer of Desmond’s Army. “The intention behind that is quite frightening.”
Pleva said actions like that are not a far cry from other types of abuse that the offender may or may not be engaged in, including but not limited to domestic violence.
“We see a lot of cases where people use the animal, if they’re in a bad relationship or whatever, they use the animal as a pawn to reach out and hurt the other person,” Pleva said.
And in most cases, Pleva said the abusers are not seeing any jail time and are granted accelerated rehabilitation, where their records are wiped clean.
“Behavior ignored is behavior accepted, and that’s what I feel has become of animal cruelty cases,” Pleva said. “The courts ignore it. And the number of convictions is so minimal that it’s laughable.”
When it comes to Ryder, Hamden animal control officers said the state is investigating the case. FOX61 reached out to the state and hasn’t gotten confirmation. Pisani said the authorities are investigating, and the shelter workers will make sure the case is not forgotten.
In the meantime, the shelter will continue to care for Ryder, though it is becoming costly, as they’ve spent $15,000 so far. To try to pay for the growing stack of medical bills, they are hosting raffles and events and trying to get some help from the public.
“We’re really doing everything we can and the number keeps growing but we definitely... if there’s anything about this rescue group, we will not stop until she is 100% healthy,” Pisani said.
On Sunday, the shelter is hosting a pup pampering fundraiser on Sunday, the 17th, at Hot Diggity Dog in Hamden. For more information, text or call: (203) 479-0061or email wtliadoptions@gmail.com.
Donations can also be made via Venmo (@wheretheloveis), on the shelter’s website or by calling Central Animal Hospital directly.
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Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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