SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — Underfed dogs, cats and a bird were rescued from a Somerset County home earlier this week.
On Friday, we spoke with one of the rescuers about what they encountered, and we want to warn you that some of the pictures of the animals are graphic.
Officials with the organization that assisted rescuing the six dogs say they are about 30 pounds underweight.
Nicole Wertz of Abby’s Angels Animal Haven says the dogs, along with two cats and a parrot, were reportedly found inside a Jennerstown home with nothing to eat or drink and extremely underweight.
The animals also reportedly had cuts on their bodies and tails, including the mother dog, Sela.
Wertz described the discovery as an extreme case of animal emaciation and says specifically in Sela’s case, she likely wouldn’t have made it more than another day or two and nearly needed a blood transfusion to survive.
She says the six dogs, which are all very friendly, each have their own foster home at this time, as they begin to mend and slowly be worked back into eating the proper amount of food.
Wertz says it will likely take a while before the dogs are ready to be put up for adoption.
“It’s probably going to be like six to eight weeks minimum. When we do refeeds, it has to be done slowly, so it’s going to be at least three weeks before they even put on five pounds, so they’re going to have to gain quite a bit of weight to start their vaccines. They’re not even healthy enough to get vaccines yet because their immune system is shot,” Wertz explained.
As for the other animals, Wertz says one of the cats was rescued while the other has not been able to be taken from the home, but is being fed.
And the parrot is being cared for by a sanctuary in Clinton County.
As for criminal charges, Somerset County District Attorney Molly Metzgar says her office wasn’t involved in the animal neglect investigation.
If you’re interested in helping the dogs recover, you can visit Abby’s Angels’ website.
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