PUEBLO — A woman in Pueblo is facing animal cruelty charges after law enforcement found a 13-week-old puppy dead in a home, according to the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region's Pueblo Animal Law Enforcement.
Dr. Patti Canchola, the staff's veterinarian, said the puppy, was "very dehydrated, had blood coming from his rectum and had freshly deposited fly eggs in his mouth." Canchola said she believed Lucias, the puppy, had Parvovirus and the owner was using Pedialyte as well as Pepto-Bismol to treat it.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, canine parvovirus is a "highly contagious virus" that is spread by "direct dog-to-dog contact" and impacts gastrointestinal tracts.
“While this case is extremely sad, it serves as a reminder that seeking veterinary care, including humane euthanasia to end suffering, is part of being a responsible pet owner,” Canchola said in a release. “Relying on word-of-mouth ideas for treatment, Google searches and old wives’ tales to care for your pets can lead to serious illness or fatality for your animal.”
His owner was charged with animal cruelty "due to the extent of suffering he endured."
