A Woman Accused of Starving and Abandoning her Fostered dog Speaks out

GEORGIA -- Ralph the dog was reunited with his owner on Christmas Eve, after the owner saw where a local shelter posted his picture online. Ralph was starved and had chemical burns on his back. The owner of the dog says his most recent foster parent, Kristy Duckett is to blame.

Duckett began fostering Ralph in late July, after his owner, Pamela Johnson found herself unable to care for the dog for the time being. Duckett says she offered to help her friend out.

 

Owner Pamela Johnson

“The agreement was to foster the dog until she was able to have a place where she was able to have a dog she said that she would pay for dog food that was the agreement to foster him never to keep him," she said.

After four months fostering Ralph, Duckett's landlord said she would have to pay an additional $350 pet fee or get rid of him. She says she was unable to pay that fee, and that's when she contacted Johnson on November 6th.

Text messages show Johnson wouldn't take the dog back

“She didn't answer my messages so a month goes by and still no answer, post still no answer nothing so I had no choice but to take him to the pound," Duckett explained.

On November 28th she dropped Ralph at Augusta Animal Services. 

 

Duckett claims Ralph was healthy and pleasantly plump when she dropped him at the shelter. Shelter workers says that is not the case.

“He's a good dog, he's a sweet dog and he doesn't deserve, this he deserves the care that he's getting, but don't slander my name because of all of that," Duckett said.

We have spoken with employees at Augusta Animal Services who say Ralph was thin and burned when he was brought to them. While at the shelter Ralph gained 3 pounds.

News Channel 6 plans to speak more with the shelter about this case. We will continue to keep you updated on the latest information.

(WJBF - Dec 28, 2014)