Original Story: On December 22, 2014, CCSPCA dispatchers received a complaint from an apartment manager in southeast Fresno reporting that neighboring units have been complaining about the smell of feces coming from one of the units and that a dog is kept in a small crate on the back patio with no food or water. An Animal Control Officer was dispatched to the scene and found an emaciated dog locked in a small crate on the back patio that was barely breathing. Despite multiple attempts, the officer could not get the poor dog to respond and so called for assistance from a Humane Officer.

Upon arrival at the apartment unit, the Humane Officer peered over the fence line and his heart sunk. He recalls that moment by stating “the horrendous condition that I found the dog in is something that will haunt me every day, like a picture with no delete option, an image permanently burned into my retinas.” The male Boxer/Bulldog blend was in a crate so small that his body was contorted into a “C” shape and his ribs, hips, and spine were clearly visible through his coat. A foul odor of feces accompanied by a metallic odor permeated from the crate. This poor animal was covered from head to toe in his own excrement and the only movement seen was his labored, shallow breathing. Unfortunately, the residents of the apartment had long since left with all their belongings, leaving behind their dog to starve to death.

The dog was immediately freed of his prison sentence of filth and starvation where it was then discovered that he had been forced to share the crate with an empty 12 inch diameter bowl in a space much too small for him alone. Once freed, he immediately began licking the hands of his rescuers and then panted happily in gratitude.

“Crook,” named so because of his twisted tail, weighed approximately 18 pounds upon arrival at the CCSPCA and was suffering from parasites and muscle atrophy due to starvation and a life lived in crate way too small for him. But through the compassionate and loving care of the CCSPCA staff, “Crook” is now nearly fully recovered and weighs 39 pounds! He is a very happy, energetic dog who will soon be looking to celebrate a new life with a loving family. Crook has since found his forever home!

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