Abused, Abandoned Dog Offered Chance At Life

PINELLAS PARK, FL — As the Pinellas Park Police Department investigates an animal cruelty case, the dog at the center of it all is being offered a chance at life.

The male bulldog mix was discovered Monday morning at 3975 118th Ave. in Pinellas Park in rather poor shape. Police say the critter was likely dumped outside the business sometime between Sunday and Monday morning. He had “skin irritated down the spine, all along the abdomen and around the nose,” an email from the agency said. One of his eyes was crusted shut and there were chain or collar marks on his neck. Signs of malnourishment were also evident.

The bulldog, estimated to be between 5 and 10 years old, was intended for release to Pinellas County Animal Service, whose officers did not provide a good prognosis. That’s when Adam Clark, an employee of the business where the dog was found, stepped forward offering to help.

“Mr. Clark wanted to take the dog to his vet to see if anything could be done for the dog before it was decided to euthanize the dog,” the email said.

Clark did just that. He took the dog to Midway Animal Hospital where veterinary staff rendered the opinion the creature, since named Andray, “had been living on concrete for a long time causing the hardened nodules and skin issues. The dog had spent long periods of time on a chain /collar and was in a state of starvation.”

Midway has agreed to care for Andray and Clark has already paid several hundred dollars out of his own pocket for that care, the police department reported. Clark is now turning to Tampa Bay area animal lovers for a little help, the agency said. He’s kicked off a GoFundMe campaign to cover the costs of Andray’s treatments. The campaign has a goal of $1,500 and had raised $460 as of Wednesday afternoon.

The investigation into the abuse of Andray remains open and active, police say. Anyone with information about the dog’s previous owner is asked to call the Pinellas Park Police Department at 727-541-0758.

To contribute to Andray’s care, visit his GoFundMe page.

Photo courtesy of the Pinellas Park Police Department