Libra, a 6-year-old dog, was found abandoned in a ditch in November, severely underweight and covered in feces.

The animal’s discovery prompted intervention from local animal welfare responders; the Shiawassee Humane Society and a county animal control officer are working with police to identify the person responsible for her neglect. Abandonment of pets like Libra can stem from human-related factors such as housing issues, costs of maintenance, and having too many animals in a household, as reported in studies approximately 13.7% to 16.1% of the time. Libra now requires ongoing medical care.

Libra was severely underweight, weighing just 22 pounds, and was described as starving, with sores on her toes and tail, and covered in feces when she was found. Sadly, data indicates that strays, including abandoned animals, constitute about 67% of shelter intakes, highlighting a troubling trend in animal abandonment.

Libra’s condition has required weekly treatment and costly medications, the Shiawassee Humane Society said. The shelter has placed her under veterinary care to address infections and the complications of prolonged neglect. Local communities can support animal shelters in these efforts by donating funds, needed supplies, or time through volunteering.

Elizabeth Kowal, Executive Director of the Shiawassee Humane Society, described the case bluntly. “In my 13 years of animal welfare, this is one of the worst cases of neglect I have seen,” she said. As Libra receives care, the shelter is keen on relying on community support, which is crucial for managing stringent rescue costs and maintaining operational resources.

The Shiawassee Humane Society is coordinating with a county animal control officer and local law enforcement as part of an effort to establish who abandoned Libra and inflicted the neglect that left her so underweight. The organizations involved are overseeing both the dog’s medical care and the investigative steps that accompany suspected abandonment cases.

Shelter staff documented Libra’s physical state on intake and have continued treatment plans that include wound care and medication. The combination of weekly treatments and specialized drugs has placed a sustained demand on the shelter’s resources, emphasizing the support needed from the community.

Local humane organizations often rely on community support to cover veterinary costs and ongoing care; broader summaries on shelter funding and community support describe donations, fostering, and volunteer work as common ways to help animal welfare groups manage such cases. For more on how communities support shelters, see Best Friends Animal Society’s analysis of owner surrender and shelter intake strategies.

People involved with Libra’s rescue emphasized that the focus remains on stabilizing her health while investigators work to determine responsibility for her abandonment. The Shiawassee Humane Society and the county animal control officer continue to coordinate with police on next steps.

Libra’s case underscores the workload shelters face when responding to severe neglect. The Shiawassee Humane Society is providing her care while the animal control officer assists with the investigative process and any legal follow-up.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.