CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – It’s no coincidence that a dog named Hope has found just that – hope for her future – after suffering from extremely neglectful conditions for the past 13 years.
Montgomery County Animal Care and Control began investigating Hope’s case in June 2015 after receiving calls regarding a mixed breed female dog named Hope. “By the time we got the second call, the dog had deteriorated so much that it could not even lift its head,” Director of Animal Control Jeanette Farrell said.
According to an arrest warrant, a witness said the dog had “fleas, severe mange and open wounds,” and the men who owned her “did not seek treatment for the animal.”
Photos courtesy of Animal Control
According to Farrell, the dog also had hair loss, fractured canine teeth and nails so long that she was unable to stand. Hope was also covered in two centimeters of flea feces. “It’s one of the worst cases I’ve seen,” Farrell said.
The 13-year-old dog also suffered from heat exhaustion and had been chewing off her own dead skin, which appeared to be scarred from years of neglect.
Hope was taken to Family Pet Hospital for initial care, then transferred to Animal Hospital, where she has been recovering ever since.
Robert French, 41, and Joseph Haase, 47, both of 806 Turtle Creek Road, were each charged with animal cruelty and booked into the Montgomery County Jail with a bond of $5,000.
Farrell said the two men appeared in court this week. The case against French was dismissed after he surrendered Hope to the custody of Animal Control.
Haase took a judicial diversion for 11 months and 29 days. He cannot own a dog for one year and Animal Control is allowed to inspect the home two times in 11 months and 29 days.
The men were ordered to surrender the dog and pay $2,500 restitution to Animal Control.
Photos courtesy of Family Pet Hospital
Hope has improved greatly under the watchful eye of Animal Hospital. She will be leaving the hospital Thursday, Dec. 17 to go to her forever home in hospice care, thanks to the efforts of Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue.
“I don’t think the community realizes it takes numbers of people sometimes and many man hours to find a dog a forever home,” Farrell said.
Hope will live out the rest of her days in the company of five other dogs and will receive the care and treatment she has always deserved.