Woman starves ex-boyfriend's dog for 30 consecutive days as revenge for breaking up
A South Carolina dog is on the road to recovery after it was rescued from the clutches of a woman, who was starving the canine to get back at her ex-boyfriend, reports said. The Mastiff mix was rescued earlier this month by a New York City Rescue team after the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office of South Carolina was notified about an animal cruelty case by the County’s Animal Control office.
As per reports by KLAS, the authorities, on reaching the scene, discovered the severely emaciated canine, who was too weak to even stand on his own. It has also been reported that the woman, who has been identified as Elizabeth Lena James, used to feed her own dogs, but starved this particular dog as it belonged to her ex boyfriend.
Her reason for not giving any food to the poor animal, named Champ, was quite simple: she was angry at the dog's owner who had broken up with her and left her, and since the dog belonged to him, and she refused to feed the dog anything. The dog had been left at her house about a month earlier by her ex-boyfriend.
As per People magazine, New York City-based Rescue Dogs Rock NYC heard of Champ’s horrendous situation through a Facebook post, and the very next day, the rescue was in contact with Laurens County Animal Control.
Rescue Dogs Rock NYC co-founder Jacquelyn O’Sullivan told the publication that because of their prior involvement in animal-related cases with the Laurens County Animal Control, they were able to quickly get the dog under their care. Champ, who was found emaciated, weighed just 50 lbs. when he was found, whereas the healthy weight for him would have been 110 lbs.
Apart from the insane weight loss, Champ was also found having pale gums, a low red blood cell count and was covered in maggots. “One week in, he is doing better. He is starting physical therapy and his red blood cells are finally starting to regenerate on their own,” O’Sullivan says. Ever since they found him, the rescue team has been keeping their fans and well-wishers updated on Champ's recovery through their social media pages.
One of the most recent videos that the rescue team posted shows the dark-colored Mastiff mix with atrophied muscles taking his first steps with assistance and standing up on his own.
“Today, he is very weak and can only stand for a few seconds, but he is standing and he is enjoying excellent medical care, good food, kind people, green grass, sunshine, and freedom. He will never be starved or have to live tied outside, alone and suffering ever again!” reads the post.
The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office announced that James was arrested for animal cruelty and booked at the Laurens County Detention Center on August 16. James had her bond hearing the following day and paid her $15,000 bond. According to an account by O’Sullivan, Champ had been left tied up outside for six months, but it wasn't clear when James had actually stopped feeding him.
However, Champ is clearly leaving his life of abuse behind. “He is recovering little by little day after day. It will take months for him to get back to his ideal weight,” O’Sullivan says, adding that even with a long road ahead Champ is still an “amazingly sweet” pooch.