Police were serving a warrant to a home on Morefield Road almost two weeks ago to Cory Russell for failure to appear in court. Police say when they got there, Russell tried to run. When police caught up with Russell in the back of the home and that's when they say they found the dog, lying on the ground, chained up.
Police tell LEX 18 when they arrived at the home, Russell's mother, who lives in the house, Rebecca Salinas, denied any wrongdoing. Police left and came back with the dog warden and seized the animal.
A local vet took in the dog, now called "Snow Chief." So far, he's put on 8 pounds. At first, the Siberian Husky only weighed 34 pounds, severely underweight for a dog who is supposed to weight at least 70 pounds.
"He was in such a severe state of dehydration and emaciation that he was very close to death," remembers Walker Logan, a vet at the Logan Veterinary Clinic. "It's the worse case I have seen and the animal be living."
Logan says the dog was so malnourished, his eyes were sunken in and he couldn't open them. "His eyes were covered in puss and matted shut," she says. But despite the neglect, the dog still has hope.
"His blood work appears to be normal for a dog in this situation," says Logan. "He ate and he drank and he didn't stop even when he couldn't stand for more than about 10 seconds because he was too weak to do it."
After a few days in the vets care, the dog was taken in by the Nicholas County Animal Welfare Society. "This is by far the worst I have ever seen. It was just devastating to see," says Kathy Chase, with the Nicholas County Animal Welfare Society.
The Nicholas County Animal Welfare Society says Snow Chief needs a lot of TLC, but he's on his way to a better life. "I don't know how anyone can live with themselves knowing they have a dog in this condition," says Chase. "I can't even fathom it. Everyone who has seen him so far has been horrified." In her 20 years of animal rescue, Chase says this is the worst case she's ever seen. "To think a dog could get in that condition, I was amazed he was still alive."
LEX 18 stopped by the home where police say Snow Chief lived. We asked to speak with Rebecca Salinas, but her son, Cory Russell said she wasn't home.
We asked Russell if he lived in the home, he said he stayed there. We asked him if he saw the dog, and he told us he fed the dog. "I went out there and fed it. I didn't let it starve," says Russell.
The Nicholas County Attorney tells LEX 18 Rebecca Salinas will likely face 2nd degree animal cruelty charges.
But despite the dire conditions the dog faced, he's still capable of love. "It is amazing that these animals can deal with the things some people will do to them and then they will still somehow be willing to come back and accept and give affection," says Logan.
To rehabilitate Snow Chief, the rescue group needs help. They're asking for donations through their ChipIn account. To make a donation, click here.
They also hope to be able to buy a special bed for Snow Chief, possibly an egg crate mattress. They're also looking for a sweater for him to wear in the winter since they had to shave his fur off due to lice.
Items can be dropped off at the rescue group at: 3572 Maysville Road in Carlisle.
Donations may also be mailed to: P.O. Box 184, Carlisle, KY 40311. For more information, call 859-473-2714 or you can email info@ncaws.org.
The rescue group says once Snow Chief is rehabilitated and back in good health, he will be put up for adoption.
(LEX18 - Dec 19, 2012)
