Neglected North Chicago Dog Dies Days After Rescue, Treatment

NORTH CHICAGO, IL — A dog recently turned into North Chicago Animal Control passed away Sunday after much care, love, tests and treatments. More than $4,600 were raised in the last few days for medical bills and treatment through a GoFundMe page created for the dog, "Toby," who was neglected, starved and tied up alone outside all summer behind an apartment complex, according to the GoFundMe page.

Toby's owner was reportedly sent to jail more than two months ago, and no one reported the dog until Thursday, Sept. 27, when he was brought to North Chicago Animal Control. According to Facebook post updates from Alison Graham, a community member who has shared the recent events involving Toby, the dog was found "with a bowl of green slimy water, no food, and he was barely able to walk on his own. He was apparently eating pears that fell from a nearby tree, and every once in awhile someone threw him some food, and he has diarrhea."

According to Graham, Toby's starvation was so severe his body was shutting down as he wouldn't eat, urinate, in addition to difficulty putting IV lines into him. Toby was taken to two different hospitals, before Graham said they found a "phenomenal doctor who is very experienced with extreme starvation cases." However, Toby's body couldn't withstand what had happened to him this summer.

Toby was a "sweet soul," who was called "Eeyore" by the medical staff, and impacted those involved so much that one of the doctors was driven to tears, according to Graham.

On Tuesday, Graham posted an update to Facebook, thanking NCAC's Shari Goldberg, Toby's medical team of "no less than 7 separate doctors" over the 72 hours he was being treated and the financial support of those who donated. Goldberg held him in her arms the night he died.

"We thank all the people who donated," Goldberg said in a statement to Patch. "It was truly appreciated. Without people donating, we could not give him the care he needed."

According to Graham's post, those involved in Toby's rescue and care want to make sure they do the right thing if there is leftover money from the GoFundMe account, following Toby's death.

"Whether that is to put the money into a fund for future emergency medical for North Chicago animals, and/or to offer refunds to anyone who wants it, I don't know yet. I just won't have the final dollar amounts for a few more days. If anyone wants to message me offline about refunds, please DO NOT hesitate. I understand completely," Graham said.

Goldberg is encouraging everyone to take action if they see or believe an animal is being mistreated.

"If people see an animal being neglected, or even think it might be getting neglected, say something," Goldberg said. "My thing is, 'See something, say something.' Call the police department or animal control for that city. We are animals' voices. We need to step up and speak for them since they cannot do it themselves."

>> Read more about Toby's treasured time and treatment

Image via GoFundMe, a Patch promotional partner.

Patch previously incorrectly stated Toby was cared for by WAGS and that NCAC found him at the apartment. We apologize for the errors. They've since been corrected.