Board member

Reward Grows to $15,000 in Long Beach Dog Abuse Case

The dog is being treated at Long Beach Animal Emergency Hospital for a fractured femur, as well as multiple skull and rib fractures, said hospital spokesman Justin Mayfield.

Rewards totaling $15,000 are being offered to help find whoever left a dog near death in a trash container in the downtown Long Beach area.

Chloe, a 9-month-old Maltipoo-terrier mix, was found last Saturday, covered in urine and tied up in a trash bag with rotting food in a dumpster.

The dog is being treated at Long Beach Animal Emergency Hospital for a fractured femur, as well as multiple skull and rib fractures, said hospital spokesman Justin Mayfield.

"Upon arrival at LBAE, Chloe underwent an array of diagnostics including bloodwork, X-rays and a CT scan," Mayfield said. "The diagnostics showed the extent of her injuries, which appear to be a result of significant neglect and abuse. Doctors at LBAE immediately began administering treatment, which included stabilizing her condition with fluid resuscitation, antibiotics, pain management medications and treatment for her traumatic brain injury."

Veterinarian Thomas Babcock, hospital administrator at Long Beach Animal Emergency, said he's "not sure how much longer she would have lasted if she had not been found and received emergency care."

"These are serious injuries with signs of prolonged abuse," Babcock said, adding that the canine is responding well to the treatment but "has a difficult road to recovery ahead of her."

Mayfield said further surgery may be needed in the near future, possibly as early as tonight. "Based on recent radiographs, Dr. Babcock believes there is only a small chance Chloe's injured leg will require amputation," Mayfield said. Rewards totaling $15,000 have been offered by various sources -- including JustFoodForDogs, Fix Long Beach Pets and Animals, Sparky and the Gang Animal Rescue and several good Samaritans -- for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. Fix Long Beach Pets and Animals board member Diana Kliche said it was one of the worst cases of animal abuse she had ever seen.

Anyone who is interested in helping Chloe or other dogs like her can make a donation to Fix Long Beach through online at www.FixLongBeachPets.com, through PayPal at donate@fixlongbeachpets.com, or through Venmo by directing payments to @FixLongBeach. Anyone with information that helps solve the crime was urged to contact Long Beach Animal Care Services at (562) 570-3086; or visit animalcarelongbeach.gov and write "dog abuse case" in the subject line.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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