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Volunteers save pup 'left to die' alone in cold

Posted at 5:05 PM, Jan 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-20 18:34:28-05

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio – A sick puppy was left alone in the brutal cold to die, volunteers from the group who rescued him said.

A good Samaritan found the 10-month-old boxer extremely skinny, dehydrated and malnourished in an alley near North Avenue and Shafor Street and brought him to volunteers from animal rescue group Joseph’s Legacy. They brought dog, who they’re calling Leroy, to a vet, who found he was also suffering from hypothermia and parvo, a virus that affects dogs.

“Almost every bone in his body is showing,” Katie Duram of Joseph’s Legacy said. “You don’t get this way overnight. Looking at him, he was neglected, probably abused, dumped and left.”

 

Meet Leroy. He was left to die in an alley in Middletown, Ohio but luckily, a Good Samaritan saw him and reached out for...

Posted by Josephs Legacy on Tuesday, January 19, 2016

When Leroy arrived at Dr. Matthew Heller’s office, the vet found the dog “hypothermic, 89 degree body temperature, emaciated, skin and bone.”

Heller hooked up an IV to pump nutrients into Leroy’s body.

By Wednesday, Leroy was doing better and able to walk a little. Joseph’s Legacy found a foster home for him with Jenni DeHart, who would be able to administer meds and fluids.

“He looked like a bag of bones,” DeHart said. “He looked like he was dying, so I said I could take him.”

 

Leroy made it through the night and is doing much better this morning. He is able to stand today, which he couldn't do...

Posted by Josephs Legacy on Wednesday, January 20, 2016

DeHart has taken in more than 200 animals in need from several organizations. She said she was outraged when she heard about what happened to Leroy.

“I get angry at humans that allow this to happen, because there is absolutely no excuse for it,” she said.

Parvo vaccines generally cost less than $20 and can prevent a deadly disease that attacks an animal’s immune system. Now, Leroy is receiving thousands of dollars in treatment thanks to donations through Joseph’s Legacy.

Anyone interested in donating can click here.

 

Here is Leroy with one of his new foster brothers. I think he likes it here. He will be here until he is healthy enough to be adopted.

Posted by Josephs Legacy on Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Heller said it’s looking like Leroy will recover.

“[He was] wagging his tail, eating wonderfully,” Heller said. [There’s a] long way to go, but with love and nutrition, we’ll do wonderful.”