No charges filed in 'pending investigation'
An “extremely malnourished” dog abandoned at Holly Hill dog park has a new leash on life after she was adopted by the police officer who found her.
Holly Hill Police Sgt. Lauren Broomfield took the dog, named Bella, home on Saturday after a Sophie’s Circle Dog Rescue volunteer had the pup checked out by Dr. Tierney Whalen at Granada Animal Hospital, authorities said.
Animal control contacted Mary Nichols around 8:30 a.m. Friday about the dog, which was found lying on a blanket inside the pavilion at the Riviera Oaks Dog Park on Alabama Avenue, a report stated. She was "extremely malnourished and covered in urine and feces."
Nichols, an animal advocate and rescue volunteer who lives close to the park, went to collect the dog and transport her to the vet, but said she was ill prepared for the scene that awaited her.
"I never expected to see what I saw when I got there," Nichols wrote in a Sophie’s Circle Facebook post. "This poor sweet girl was left with a blanket and that’s it. The pictures don't really show how emaciated this girl really is."
Nichols relayed to police that Whalen believes the dog had been kept in a crate and not fed or let out. She said there are urine burns on the dog's paws which is a result of "sitting in urine and feces for a significant amount of time." The dog was also severely dehydrated and malnourished, the report stated.
Nichols reported to police that the dog was microchipped, but when she reached out to the registered owners, they informed her that they had given Bella to a Daytona Beach man because they "can't have that type of breed due to their homeowners insurance." The breed of the dog was not included in the report.
Neither person was named in the report, which indicated the case was being forwarded to the department’s criminal investigations division.
"No charges have yet been filed in this case due to our pending criminal investigation," said Police Chief Stephen Aldrich.
Despite the circumstances, things seem to be looking up for this hard-luck pooch. Whalen said that although the dog is “extremely neglected and in poor condition” she feels the dog will “be okay.”
"She will have a new fur brother too!" Sophie's Circle Dog Rescue wrote in a Facebook post Saturday. "She has to be on a very strict schedule for feeding and can only eat a special wet food for now."