Neglected/Starved Oxford Dog Has a New Home

OXFORD – Max has finally found a home.

The German shepherd who was found starving in January was transported to his "furever" home on Saturday, First Selectman George R. Temple announced Monday in a prepared statement.

Max, a black 9-year-old who was being treated for heartworm disease is now well and was adopted by a horse trainer in Kommiskey Indiana. He left town in style Saturday in a nice BMW SUV.

He will be working with owner trainer Bethany Pandoli, of Thoroughbred/Quarter Horse Trainers. She has adopted other shepherds in the past and Max took a liking to her right away and is in awe of the horses, cats and pigs that live on the farm and is blending in, Temple said.

"I want to thank everyone who generously donated more than $4,000 for Max's care,'' said Temple in a statement. "Max now has a perfect home where he will live out his retirement years

On Jan. 23, state police responded to a complaint at 288 Governors Hill Road that a German shepherd dog was being neglected. The complaint said the dog was tied up outside and left out in extremely cold weather and they could hear the dog dropping his food bowl on the ground over and over.

State police said the dog was very thin and tied with a five-foot leash and there was no food or water within sight.

Based on the condition of the dog they took possession of him and transported him to Beacon Falls Animal Hospital where the vet found it to be a “blatant starvation/neglect case.’’

The vet said the dog was at least 25 to 30 pounds underweight. The dog’s owner turned the dog over to the town and (the former) owner Jonathon Foster, 26 was charged with cruelty to animals, tethering and confining a dog for an unreasonable period of time, failure to license and failure to vaccinate. The criminal case is still pending.