A deceased dog was found frozen in a cage near the Village Grove Apartments in Ypsilanti by cruelty investigators at the Humane Society of Huron Valley on Sunday, Feb. 13.
HSHV responded to the scene after the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office received a report. They believe the cage was left in the field off of Share Avenue and west of Harris Road the day before.
The dog was emaciated, and the cage was lined with feces. He appeared to be a young, black pitbull mix with a small white stripe on his chest.
“While we don’t yet have an official cause of death, this heartbreaking case gives us an opportunity to share some important reminders,” Tanya Hilgendorf, HSHV’s CEO, said in a written statement. “Though it is still legal in Michigan to keep a dog outside when the temperature is dangerously cold, it can cause great suffering and even death. There is a bill in Michigan’s State House, HB 4784, that doesn’t ban dogs from being forced to live outside, but does create stricter rules to improve protection. Better laws make a difference."
Anyone with information about the dog can call HSHV’s Cruelty and Rescue Department at 734-661-3512 or report online at hshv.org/report. All tips will be investigated.
“We also want to be sure folks know that HSHV has a variety of support services available to families in our community struggling to care for or feed their animals. We are here to help and prevent these types of tragedies,” Hilgendorf said.
To report animal cruelty in Washtenaw County, people can call HSHV at 734-661-3512. To learn more about keeping pets safe during the winter, visit www.hshv.org.
