Pennsylvania: Gerald Walker Jr., 19, owner of badly emaciated dog described as 'fur on top of a skeleton' charged

PENNSYLVANIA -- The owner of a badly emaciated dog described by a police officer as being just "fur on top of a skeleton" and near death was arrested Friday morning.

Pittsburgh police said Gerald Walker Jr., 19, turned himself in and was charged with animal cruelty. His pit bull, Effie, is continuing a slow recovery at the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society.

 

In an unrelated case, Walker was the victim of a shooting this week on Tioga Street in Homewood, according to the criminal complaint.

"My initial reaction was, "Aww, come on man.' That's how bad she was," Officer Christine Luffey said after police found Effie Jan. 21. "I held her, and it was awkward to hold her because I have dogs and I love dogs. I was literally holding a skeleton."

Gerald's defense is that he "couldn't afford" to feed his dog.
Doesn't look like Gerald missed any meals...

Police said a man who was servicing an apartment in Homewood spotted Effie and reported the dog's condition. Investigators found Effie the next day at a different apartment in Wilkinsburg and removed her.

Effie was initially taken to the Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center. In addition to being about 30 pounds underweight, doctors said she was hypothermic and they were not sure if she would survive.

Effie has gained just two pounds in two weeks, but the Humane Society said she has made significant progress and a full recovery is expected in eight to 10 weeks.

(WTAE - Feb 5, 2016)