URGENT: Dog in Horrific Condition Being Returned to Owners?
Kristin Simon/PETA
BACKGROUND
A West Virginia rescue group recently obtained a severely emaciated dog who was found running at large and who was suffering from a skin infection, overgrown toenails, ear infections, and dental problems—all indicators of long-term neglect. Reportedly, the rescue group determined that the dog, whom it nicknamed China, was being sought by her family and had been missing only for six days—a period of time that cannot account for her shocking condition. Furthermore, photographs document the significant amount of weight that China reportedly gained in less than a week with proper care at the rescue group’s facility. Upshur County officials are now apparently considering returning China to her former home!
West Virginia law requires people to provide their animals with necessary food and veterinary care. Please urge Upshur County officials to initiate a criminal investigation regarding China’s condition and to take all possible measures to secure her safety. Remind them that if the family failed this animal before, then they will likely fail her again!
WHOM TO CONTACT
Individual
Megan Pomeroy
County Administrator
mjpomeroy@upshurcounty.org
Upshur County Commission
treedr02@yahoo.com
jcraffety@suddenlink.net
The Honorable Jacob E. Reger
Upshur County Prosecuting Attorney
jacobreger@aol.com
Group
mjpomeroy@upshurcounty.org ; jcraffety@suddenlink.net ; jacobreger@aol.com
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Honorable Reger, Administrator Pomeroy, and County Commissioners:
I have learned of extremely disturbing and case of animal cruelty committed on a dog who was renamed China. A rescue organization has been treating her neglect, and I am writing to express my support of sentencing her abusers to the maximum penalty allowed under the law, and to reject the family’s desire to pursue their “ownership” of China.
China was found as a severely emaciated dog, running at large and who was suffering from a skin infection, overgrown toenails, ear infections, and dental problems—all indicators of long-term neglect. Reportedly, the rescue group determined that China was being sought by her family and had been missing only for six days—a period of time that cannot account for her shocking condition.
When I try to imagine what possible motive animal abusers entertain for subjecting their animal victims to such neglect, I fail, but I am thankful for a lack of cognitive understanding and rationalization. To voluntarily engage in such behaviour suggests sadistic tendencies, and these actions, causing unmitigated pain and suffering to China, demonstrates an incontrovertible lack of morality regarding other living beings and a gross disrespect for the law. In fact, a person who shows such a remarkable lack of compassion towards non-human animals has the ability to show such indifference towards human animals. This link between animal and human abuse has been established, and if we excuse this criminal behaviour, or agree to a lesser punishment, we only harm ourselves by unjustly nullifying cruelty as acceptable behaviour.
West Virginia law requires people to provide their animals with necessary food and veterinary care. Please initiate a criminal investigation regarding China’s condition and to take all possible measures to secure her safety. Please remember that if the family failed this animal before, then they will likely fail her again.
I know your time is limited and I want to thank you for your attention to this urgent appeal.
NAME
Order a FREE vegan kit: http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/free-vegetarian-starter-kit.aspx
Take PETA’s Cruelty-Free Shopping Guide along with you next time you head to the store! The handy guide will help you find humane products at a glance. Order a FREE copy HERE
Want to do more than go vegan? Help others to do so! Click on the below for nominal, or no, fees to vegan literature that you can use to convince others that veganism is the only compassionate route to being an animal friend.
Vegan Outreach has a suggested donation: http://www.veganoutreach.org/catalog/index.html
PETA: http://www.petacatalog.com/catalog/Literature-39-1.html
Action for Animals has a very low price : http://store.afa-online.org/home.php?cat=284
dear humans,
my name is china,
i was neglected
and abused.
now i feel lost,
and confused,
i want a chance
to really live,
with the people
i was with before,
that is a chance
that they will
never give.
so hear my voice
and what i have
to say.
let me be adopted
by some people
who will treat me
the right way!
Karen Lyons Kalmenson
Our Compass 
dear humans,
my name is china,
i was neglected
and abused.
now i feel lost,
and confused,
i want a chance
to really live,
with the people
i was with before,
that is a chance
that they will
never give.
so hear my voice
and what i have
to say.
let me be adopted
by some people
who will treat me
the right way!
LikeLike
It’s perfect, thank you so much for your amazing talent.
LikeLike
you are so welcome and thank you for the inspiration 🙂
LikeLike
Emailed each one separately. And share her picture above on the email too.
LikeLike
WTH???? Why in the world would these people even consider returning such an emaciated, horrifically abused & neglected dog, to such heinous m@nsters??!!!! It is indefensible and unfathomable why these authorities have not charged them & begun prosecution to the fullest extent possible. If they don’t then the county officials should be fired and replaced with competent people with some empathy & integrity to ENFORCE THE LAW. It boggles the mind that the world has become so upside down, inside out and backwards ~ completely dysfunctional while animals always suffer needlessly for the sins of the people. This has to stop! “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” ~ MLK Jr.
LikeLike
Very well said, catwhispurrer, I completely agree. Thank you.
LikeLike
It does not take long for a dog to lose weight . If the dog was out for six days without food you will get and emaciated animal. Dogs metabolism doesn’t work like ours theirs are on overdrive in which it would only take a dog to loose weight in only two days without food to where we would have to work on loosing it for weeks even months. . I am uncertain about the over grown claws and as for the dental work not being done on the animal does not man it is not loved by it owners. Many people can’t afford vets and it is not at fault of the owner but the fault of many vets that are money hungry and would rather watch an animal die then to help them because they can not get paid for their services. I was a vet tech for over 12 years and the things I have seen would horrify you all. Once in a life time you will find a vet with a heart and I will tell you they are few. So don’t be so critical due to the nature of this poor animal because the emaciated part of her is not the fault of the owner .
LikeLike
I had a dog not eat for 7 days due to illness and in no way shape or form did my dog look like a skeleton. This dog had skin and ear infections and overgrown toenails. The dog needed a dental badly. They may ‘love’ the dog, but they don’t seem to be good caretakers. I would scrimp and save to get my dog dental care! If you were a vet tech you know that dental neglect causes pain and suffering and heart disease.
This dog needs to stay with the rescue!
LikeLike
Yes if your dog was missing for 6 days it would be thinner and there would probably be some rib protrusion, but there’s no way in Hell that this dog became this emaciated in just six days! China was a walking skeleton when she was found. Her abuse and neglect have very obviously been going on for sometime.
LikeLike
This was posted at Guardians of Rescue. What’s the name/page of the rescue group that has China? Do they have/need a medical fund for her care? Details, details….
LikeLike