This abused dog was found nearly starved to death. Help Fall River police find the owner.
FALL RIVER — The Fall River Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit is investigating a disturbing case of animal cruelty after animal control officers found a pit bull that had nearly starved to death on Sunday.
“Somebody has to know something,” said Animal Control Supervisor Cindy Berard-Cadima, adding that FRPD detectives are taking the case seriously and looking for the dog’s owner.
The approximately 3-year-old male pit bull was found abandoned on Sunday night on Ward Street, suffering from severe malnutrition and open wounds on his legs and underbelly. The dog required emergency veterinarian care.
Berard-Cadima said the dog's condition when found made the animal control officers in the department become emotional, among a staff that has seen more than its fair share of animal cruelty.
“We all cried,” said Berard-Cadima.
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The dog is in professional care, and it has a name
Now the dog is on the mend and in the care of Forever Paws Animal Shelter in Fall River, and soon enough he’ll hopefully be in a forever home.
Staff there have named the dog Kyro, and on Thursday Forever Paws Director Arianna Silva brought the sweet pit bull on a leash for a walk in the grass.
Kyro sniffed and accepted pets from visitors, his gentle demeanor giving no hint of what abuse he endured before being rescued.
To help Kyro to gain weight, Silva said, he’s on a special diet that requires staff at Forever Paws to feed him puppy food every few hours.
“He’s already gained 2½ pounds,” said Silva.
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Regarding the animal cruelty investigation, Berard-Cadima said detectives are looking into whether any personal surveillance cameras in the neighborhood may have captured the moments Kyro was abandoned.
According to a Facebook post from the Fall River Police Department, "It is believed that the dog was dumped out of a black truck."
According to Massachusetts General Law, animal cruelty offenses can be punished by up to seven years in state prison or 2½ years in the county House of Correction; the law also calls for fines up to $5,000.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Joseph Boyajian at 508-676-8511, ext. 250, or by calling the anonymous TIP Line at 508-672-TIPS (8477).
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Pit bull found abused in Fall River; police looking for dog's owner
