The brown and white white female Labrador Retriever mix, dubbed “Molly” by a city animal control officer – was found last Friday, Jan. 25, according to Clearlake Police Department Animal Control Officer Lee Lambert.
At 11:20 a.m. that day Clearlake Police Officer Tyler Paulsen responded to a request for a welfare check at 15190 Cass Ave., Lambert said.
It was reported that the tenant at this residence had not been seen for a month and there was a “bad odor” coming from a window in the back of the residence. Lambert said the reporting party also stated that they had custody of one of the tenant’s dogs.
When Paulsen arrived he performed a welfare check and no persons were found to be at the residence. Looking through a partially broken window into a bedroom, he saw a dog that appeared to be very thin and looked ill, Lambert said. Officer Paulsen then contacted Clearlake Animal Control and asked for them to respond.
While waiting for animal control to arrive, Officer Paulsen spoke with neighbors who stated that the prior tenant has not been seen for approximately three weeks to a month, Lambert said. Officer Paulsen also was told by one of the neighbors that they had taken in a dog which had been left behind by the tenant.
At approximately 11:50 a.m. Lambert and another city animal control officer, Frankie Blavet, arrived at the residence, where Paulsen advised them of what he had found and what neighbors had stated, Lambert reported.
After locating the dog, it was determined that she was in need of immediate veterinary care. In the opinion of the officers, the dog was extremely emaciated and appeared to be very weak, according to Lambert.
Lambert said he was able to call the dog to the broken window and remove it from the house.
After placing the emaciated dog in the animal control vehicle, officers began their investigation and photographing the scene, Lambert said.
The dog – which Blavet later named Molly – appeared to have been locked in a small bedroom for approximately three weeks to a month. Lambert said the door to the bedroom was closed and there were scratch marks on the bottom of the door, appearing to have been caused by the dog attempting to scratch her way out.
In addition, Lambert said the room was filled with trash and debris as well as a large amount of dog feces, with a strong odor of dog urine present as well.
A food and water bowl were found, however they were both empty and dry, he said.
Molly was transported to Clearlake Veterinary Clinic and examined by licensed veterinarian Alison Stambaugh, who Lambert said concluded that Molly weighed only 23 pounds, about half of what a dog her size should weigh.
Molly also was determined to be dehydrated and her body temperature was below normal. Lambert said Molly was left at Clearlake Veterinary Clinic for further treatment and observation under the care of Dr. Stambaugh.
A donation account has been set up at Clearlake Veterinary Clinic for those wishing to assist in the treatment, care and recovery of Molly.
Donations can be mailed to Clearlake Veterinary Clinic at 3424 Emerson St., Clearlake CA 95422, or directly to the city of Clearlake Animal Control at 14050 Olympic Dr., Clearlake CA 95422.
A Chip In account is in the process of being set up and those wishing to donate online will be able to do so by visiting Clearlake Animal Control’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CityOfClearlakeAnimalControl .
The case is still under investigation. Upon completion, the case will be forwarded to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution, Lambert said.
He said they will be seeking felony and misdemeanor charges against Molly’s owner.
(Lake County News - Feb 1, 2013)
