Please Help get Justice for Shepp, a German Shepherd left to Starve on the End of a Chain

http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/justiceforshepp.html

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ClMpxcltnAo

http://indiestore.7digital.com/dogsdeservebetter/

Maria Daines, http://www.maria-daines.com, who is becoming known as the Goddess of Animal Rights Music, has written an incredibly moving song for Shepp, and is generously allowing DDB to keep any money raised from downloads. The song is now up, please listen and download at: http://indiestore.7digital.com/dogsdeservebetter/

Here's the case as DDB has heard.

9/22/08. After being dumped off at an abandoned home in Corpus Christi, TX, a German Shepherd was found in horrific conditions last week on 9/16/08. Parts of his bones were exposed due to constant friction from trying to move. No arrests have been made.

Laying on the concrete, unable to even get up from his side and with what appeared to be a wound on his neck was a dog laying under a carport. Barely within reach was an overturned bucket with some dry food.

Shepp, a German Shepherd, squirmed in an attempt to move when the Animal Control people arrived. The dog was unable to budge but a few inches. His ribs were protruding through the skin due to him weighing 43 lbs., less than half of what would be considered a healthy weight. Skin was actually growing over his collar and there were wounds all over his body. The skin and the muscle had worn through due to the friction of him struggling on the cement, with approximately one inch of shoulder bone exposed. It is being labeled as the worst case of animal neglect that local officials have ever seen.

A neighbour told reporters that a man in a tan coloured Ford Ranger pickup dropped the dog off about a month ago at a vacant home. She said in the news report that she knew the dog was indeed thin but didn't know to what extend until this past Monday when it had apparently gotten loose from whatever means the individual had used to tie it up.

The pickup was found at another residence in Corpus Christi. The owner of the residence claimed to know who owned the pickup but couldn't remember his name despite it being her brother-in-law. She said he found the dog, according to the KZTV news report.

Sadly, Animal Control director, Kelli Copeland explained how this case and so many other animal abuse cases fall short of proper investigation and prosecution due to limited resources. When there is a child abuse case versus and animal abuse case, current available resources go to the children.

Shepp was removed from the horrific conditions in which he was found but he died in a local animal facility last Friday. The owners have not been charged with any crime and police are not confirming that they know who owned Shepp.

Here is a link to the footage of Shepp by KZTV 10, but be warned, it is graphic and very disturbing.

http://www.kztv10.com/Special Projects/305.htm

To sign a petition to bring justice for Shepp which will be sent to local officials, please visit this link. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/65/justice-for-shep-a-dog-starved-to-death

10/01/2008

A major development in the animal cruelty case of Shepp the Dog. TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED! A 44-year old man named Daniel Luna, and a 45-year old woman named Norma Luna. Both charged with animal cruelty. We will continue to update as we get more information.

According to ACO Richard Golb, the DA who is prosecuting the case is Deborah Rudder - here is contact info for that office :

PROSECUTORS' OFFICE
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Physical Address: 120 North Chaparral, Room 240
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 9277 Corpus Christi, Texas 78469-9277
Telephone Number: (361) 826-2530
Fax: (361) 886-2567
E-mail: Prosecutors@cctexas.com