What is wrong with people?????

The dog was so hungry it ate rocks.



Official: Dog starved by owner swallowed rocks
A malnourished rottweiler ate five stones in an almost deadly attempt to ease hunger pangs

BY ERIK GERMAN
STAFF WRITER

February 7, 2006

Cali the starving rottweiler became so hungry that she swallowed five golf-ball-sized rocks in her North Bellport backyard last month in a near fatal attempt to ease hunger pangs, rescuers said.

By the time she had emergency surgery to remove the stones, 4-year-old Cali weighed just 40 pounds. "She was skin and bones," said Matthew Kearns, the veterinarian who treated the rottweiler at Animal Emergency Services in Selden.

Though Cali was lucky, her sister rottweiler wasn't. She died of malnourishment shortly after Suffolk police found the two starving dogs and turned them over to Brookhaven animal control officers.

"In my 30 years of doing this, I haven't seen starvation to the point of death before," added Charles McGinley, director of Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center. "There's no excuse for it happening."

Last week, police arrested Xinia Morales, 42, in connection with the dogs' alleged neglect at 603 MacDonald Ave. in North Bellport. Morales was charged with cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail. She was issued an appearance ticket and released, and is scheduled for arraignment on April 4 at First District Court in Central Islip. Phone calls seeking comment from Morales were not returned yesterday.

Before surgery, an X-ray revealed Cali had ingested five stones - each one at least an inch in diameter. Kearns said that dogs who have gone for long periods without eating will sometimes fill their bellies with anything they can find, including dirt and stones.

"This was a chronic thing," Kearns said. "Dogs don't get skinny and eat rocks over one day. They have to be not fed very much or not fed anything."

Another vet who examined Cali said the chronic underfeeding may explain why the dog also had been nearly crippled by arthritis.

"This is such an extreme case, it's very suspicious," said Arnold Lesser, a surgeon at New York Veterinary Specialty Center in Farmingdale.

"I don't think there's any way to cure her, and the objective would be to keep her as comfortable as possible and that could be a long, long time because of her age."

Despite her ailments, Cali is a favorite at the shelter. "This dog is just the biggest mush you could ever imagine," Kearns said. "She's a real love."

Those interested in adopting Cali should call the Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center at 631-286-4940.
Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.

Re: What is wrong with people?????

i feel like I am going to throw up.

Re: What is wrong with people?????

Why do people own pets when they know they are going to mistreat them? How horrible.

Re: What is wrong with people?????

I dont even know what to say, this really breaks my heart. I hope she gets the full year in jail although I know she wont maybe someone should starve her

Re: What is wrong with people?????

This is just totally awful....it's beyond my comprehension why people would have pets if they cannot provide for them the adequate care and love.....so sad for this dog...

Re: What is wrong with people?????

That is so horrible Why do people keep pets that they cant take care of??

Re: What is wrong with people?????

I really dont understand how anyone can hurt a child or an animal!!!

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Re: What is wrong with people?????

nice.

Re: What is wrong with people?????

They should take this ignorant fool, tie her up outside with no shelter and make HER eat ROCKS! Sickos.....keeping a live ANIMAL.
Get a LAWN ORNAMENT if thats what you want...these stories make me sick.....

Re: What is wrong with people?????

WHY WHY WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE ALLOWED TO HAVE ANIMALS!!! DAMN THEM!!!

If I was in NY I'd SO be trying to get that Rottie!!!

Re: What is wrong with people?????

how the hell could that kind of cruelty only be punishable by up to one year in prison???? I'm crying right now....

Re: What is wrong with people?????

absolutely horrible!!

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Message edited 2/7/2006 4:16:13 PM.

Re: What is wrong with people?????

I saw that in the paper

Re: What is wrong with people?????

I read that today in the paper.
So sad!

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OMG!!!

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Sick bastards

Re: What is wrong with people?????

Stories like this make me belive that we should have "an eye for an eye" law. I hope that woman gets what she deserve with her 1 year in prison!!

Re: What is wrong with people?????