“Moo” is being treated for a variety of conditions, not the least of which is malnourishment. Though dogs his breed and age are normally 100 pounds, Moo weighs only 48.
GERMAN BRIDGE — A county employee is being held blameless, after a horribly malnourished and neglected dog was found chained up on his property at German Bridge Monday morning.
Shauna Brown, manager of the Floyd County Animal Shelter, says the dog, a Great Dane, was found chained up on the property of Duane Conley, who works as the caretaker of German Bridge campground.
Brown says the dog, which the staff has taken to calling, “Moo,” was ravaged by infection, red mange and insect bites, and is severely malnourished.
Moo’s malnourishment is so severe, that as a nearly 1-year-old Great Dane he only weighs 48 pounds. Typical weight for 1-year-old male would be over 100 pounds.
Brown said Moo’s recovery will be a slow process, but she hopes he will make a full recovery and a suitable and loving home will be found for him.
“Because of the breed of dog, there is a worry that his stomach could become twisted, so we can’t just give him a lot of food,” said Brown. “We have to give him three spoons of food, then wait an hour and give him three more.”
Brown says Great Danes are not a breed that enjoys a long lifespan, and the inhumane treatment of Moo has probably shortened his lifespan to five years.
According to Brown, Moo is currently receiving Ivermectin for the skin issues. He was transported to a veterinarian for treatment Monday afternoon, where he received treatment for the red mange.
According to Brown, Moo was taken to the county attorney’s office so that they could see, firsthand, the condition in which he was in when recovered from Conley’s property. Brown said she believes Conley should have been charged with at least second-degree cruelty to animals. First-degree cruelty to animals is a charge now reserved only for dog fighting cases.
According to Assistant County Attorney Tyler Green, however, Conley was not charged because he claimed the dog was a stray he found.
Animal Control officer Paul Marsillett says Conley advised him that Moo was not his, and that he was a stray that had been found a week earlier. “What we were told by Mr. Conley is that the dog came in there in that condition,” said Marsillett. According to Marsillett, Moo was found chained up with a water dish, and an overturned food dish.
Marsillett said he could not prove that the dog belongs to Conley. “It would be my word against his.”
Marsillett said that Conley initially did not want for Marsillett to take Moo because he stated that his wife was “nursing him back to health.” When asked about Moo’s skin condition, Marsillett said that Conley produced some ointment, but that the ointment was actually for use on horses.
The Floyd County Animal shelter will accept donations from anyone who would like to help fund the veterinary bills of the dog. Donations can be mailed to the Floyd County Animal Shelter at PO Box 1502 Prestonsburg, KY 41653.
These people love animals.They've always taken in strays and nourished them back to health.I seen the dog when it first arrived and it was in terrible condition! It has improved a lot!How could someone have pictures of it as a pup with him when they only had it a few weeks?The media and people JUST LIKE YOU have passed judgement on these people before you even know the facts!
The only thing they're guilty of is having compassion.