Experts say dog abuse and neglect is becoming such a problem in southwest Florida, often times, once they get the dogs to animal rescues, it's too late, and they have to be put down.
Tammy Henry has been fostering a pocket pitbull named Brandi for the last month. She got her from Pure Hearts Rescue.
"I brought her home with the great hopes of watching her get better and happy," Henry said.
Unfortunately, Brandi is living out her final days before euthanization.
"I'm going to have to let her go," Henry said with tears in her eyes.
Brandi's ribs poke through her skin, as her frail body tries to fight off disease. Her hip bones are protruding. She has scars all over her face and body, and short-cut ears: signs of fighting. She's overbred, and has open wounds from living in squalor. Brandi is suffering from multiple terminal illnesses.
Brandi will be put down on Saturday, and Henry wants her story to be the voice for other neglected dogs.
Henry used to work for Clewiston Animal Control in Hendry County. She said she'd see dogs like Brandi all too often.
"On an average, probably 5-6 every month," Henry said.
Juliet is an example. She was neglected in Clewiston and has only 2-6 months to live
"They actually had to remove her spleen. It was two-and-a-half feet long, which is completely abnormal," Juliet's foster mom Victoria Frazier said.
Frazier also said Juliet was overbred, and spent her life tethered.
"A lot of her teeth are filed down from probably trying to get off that chain," Frazier said.
Carey Kendzior from Pitbull Crew, Inc. said dogs like Juliet prove anti-tethering ordinances, like the ones in place in Lee County, need to be in effect, among other laws.
"The other thing would definitely be breeding. If there was an improvement in the law that would make it illegal," Kendzior said.
Four in Your Corner's Lisa Greenberg has reached out to Hendry County Commissioners multiple times to see if they would push for new ordinances to prevent neglect, and has not heard back.
Pitbull Crew, Inc. is putting on a rabies clinic and food drive in Hendry County, especially for residents of the Montura area. It will be on October 22nd from 9AM-11AM. The event will be held at the Montura Clubhouse at 225 N Hacienda St, Clewiston, FL.
