Afghan Hound Rescue Central Ohio

 

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Winston ~      Photos - scroll down for photos of Winston

 From the Zanesville Times Recorder -       May 22, 2007                              

Group wants justice for dog they say was abused -
Members bring dogs in surprise visit to prosecutor's office
By KATHY THOMPSON -Staff Writer

ZANESVILLE - A group of rescuers and their dogs from around the state came to ask the Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office to take another look at a case where an Afghan hound was euthanized in December.

 

With a binder filled with 5,248 names from all around the country on a petition, Maureen Anderson, executive director of the Afghan Hound Rescue Central Ohio, took her group to the prosecutor's office hoping to present it to Prosecutor Michael Haddox.

 

The group wants the prosecutor's office to look at the case of Winston, who was taken to the Columbus-based organization from the local Animal Shelter Society weighing 41 pounds. A healthy male Afghan hound should weigh between 60 and 65 pounds. Winston was euthanized after a case of pneumonia left him with less than 25 percent of his lung capacity.

 

Winston also had what looked like a broken leg that had never been treated and extremely matted hair, according to Anderson.

 

Winston had been turned over to Muskingum County Dog Warden Bryan Catlin Dec. 11, 2006 before being turned over to the local animal shelter

Haddox was in a meeting at the time the group arrived at his office Monday.

 

"We have tried to get a meeting several times, but never seem to be able to get anywhere," Anderson said. But Haddox said late Monday afternoon that he would be happy to meet with the group. "All they need to do is set up an appointment," Haddox said.

 

The group brought along seven of their own Afghan hounds, Nigel, Penny, a 13-year-old with a pacemaker, Maxwell, a retired show champion, Cammy, from Australia, Juda, who was picked as King of the group's annual picnic last year, Sofie, from Indiana, and Alfie, all sat patiently in the lobby of the prosecutor's office while the group gave the petition to employees to give to Haddox.

 

Debbie Cordray, of Zanesville, said she was with the group who walked from Zane's Landing Park to the courthouse with the large dogs to draw attention to the fact "there needs to be more backbone in the legislature."

 

"There are laws but sometimes even the humane officer can't do a lot because the laws really don't have any teeth," Cordray said.

Anderson said she wants not only to have Winston's former owners prosecuted for the treatment of the dog, but also to help change the laws and to educate the public on what is real abuse.

 

The group is frustrated that neither Catlin nor Muskingum County Humane Officer Beulah Hague pursued charges against Winston's owners.

"You can just look at the pictures and see the dog was terribly abused and neglected," Anderson said as she pointed to the poster board filled with pictures of Winston.

Caitlin has said previously there was not enough evidence of neglect and/or abuse to press charges and the owners, who live in the Philo area, gathered eight to 10 signatures of neighbors who would be willing to testify in court that they took care of Winston.   Assistant Prosecutor Ron Welch also told the group earlier this year that both Hague and Catlin requested charges not be filed and they suspected no criminal activity.

 

"We'd like to see the investigation," said Susan Lutz, a member of the rescue organization and former civil law attorney. "We've never been able to see it. We want someone to pay attention to us and listen to us. We're fighting for Winston because he was abused and we want justice."

Sue Chamberlain, of Marysville, owner of Sophie, said the group would continue to fight for Winston and all abused animals.

"The things that happened to Winston are wrong and we want someone to answer for it," Chamberlain said

 Reports from our Veterinarians

See the graphic photos below this story and judge for yourself if Winston was cared for as his owner claims.  

12-23-2006   To all our friends, we are sorry to share with you that Winston passed away Friday, December 22, 2006.  After being diagnosed with pneumonia, with only one quarter of his lung function remaining,  our vets determined that to continue in our attempt to save his life, would only prolong his misery.  Sadly, we agreed. We are working with the county officers and shelter staff to prosecute his former owner.

 

On December 13, 2006 we were contacted by the Zanesville Animal Shelter asking if we would take an afghan hound into our program.  They sent photos.   We were told that he was thin and had at some point in the past 2 years had suffered a broken leg that had been left untreated.   Two days later, Susan, an AHRCO  volunteer drove to the shelter to collect the dog we now call Winston.  Although severely malnourished, and with a badly deformed leg stemming from an old untreated injury that must have caused him immeasurable pain, he is the sweetest, gentlest boy.   We have named him Winston as he is such a brave little soul... a winner is everyone's mind.   The 2 photos below showing the condition of his coat were taken by the shelter staff.  The others were taken Saturday(12/16) morning in my basement.

 

When Susan arrived at AHRCO headquarters, between us we lifted him from the car and set him on the ground. Although Susan had called from the shelter, I was not prepared. The sight of his emaciated body and deformed broken leg moved us to tears.  We carried him inside, down the basement stairs to the comfort on a warm cot.   We contacted our vet. scheduling an appointment for Monday evening.   In the interim we started him on antibiotics and offered him food.  As the weekend passed we made many, many trips to the basement to sit with him, to cuddle him, to cry over him, to beg him to please eat.  We rushed to the store for high quality pet foods. We offered him chicken, eggs, hamburger and rice - we used all the tricks we've learned in 30 years of caring for this breed - all in hopes of getting him to eat. We carried him up and down stairs to go outside to the bathroom.    Once outside, Winston surprised us with his ability to compensate for the one leg was several inches shorter than the other 3, we watched, as the lower portion of his broken leg and foot acted as a flipper, waving around furiously as he attempted to increase his pace from tree to tree in my yard.  Neighbors who witnessed his movement were horrified, coming closer to meet Winston they were sickened at the visible signs of starvation. 

 

When we arrived for our vet appointment Monday evening, everyone in the vet. clinic was shocked as Winston hobbled in the door with his exaggerated gait caused by the shorter leg.  For nearly 2 hours  the vet and her staff examined Winston.   Winston is approximately 8 years old. is severely malnourished, suffering the results of a broken leg that had been left untreated for approximately 2 years.  He has an untreated abscess on his back, kennel cough and is very weak. We left with medications returning home to carry him once more down to the basement, to his now familiar heated cot.   By Thursday night, it was obvious that his condition was not improving.  

 

On Friday, Winston returned to the animal hospital where he was examined by 2 vets.   After being diagnosed with pneumonia, with only one quarter of his lung function remaining,  our vets determined that to continue in our attempt to save his life, would only prolong his misery.   Sadly, we agreed.

 

~WARNING:   These photos are untouched and vividly portray Winston's condition.

click on each thumbnail for a larger view to appear below.  There are 8 slides in the group

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