Emaciated Dog With Just Hours To Live Gets Second Chance At Life
TRENTON, NJ (CBS) -- A dog got a second chance at life when she was rescued from the woods in Trenton, New Jersey last week.
According to CARES, an emergency veterinary care hospital in Langhorne, Rue was emaciated, had plastic lodged in her gums and a screw in her stomach when she arrived.
Hospital workers say she was trying to find anything to eat to stay alive.
On Wednesday, Officer Joe Antonello, of Trenton Humane Law Enforcement and Animal Service, received a call that she was in the woods on Lamberton Road at Duck Island in Trenton.
"She definitely didn't get down there by herself," says Officer Antonello.
"No question, if I had found her an hour later, she would have died. This type of crime is considered an indictable offense under NJ State Law."
Veterinarians quickly got to work on Rue. They say at two-years-old, she only weighed 26 pounds and was found to be both anemic and cachetic. A heart murmur was also present, likely a result of the anema.
"Rue has a strong will to get better and she has stolen our hearts," says CARES Emergency Veterinarian Dr. Morgan Callahan.
"She is simply amazing," adds CARES Board Certified Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Specialist, Dr. Gary Puglia.
Today, Rue is eating and her vitals are good.
Dr. Puglia says, "she's a real fighter!"
Officials are asking anyone with information on Rue or her owners to contact Trenton Humane Law Enforcement and Animal Services at 609-989-3254.
