2 Pueblo women charged with animal cruelty after puppy dies, was given Pepto-Bismol

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- Two Pueblo women have been charged with animal cruelty after the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region discovered a deceased 13-week-old puppy that was given Pepto-Bismol.

On May 7,  the Animal Law Enforcement team responded to a call about a dead dog inside a condemned Pueblo residence.

The HSPPR staff veterinarian, Dr. Patti Canchola, found that the dog had been dead for 24 hours, was dehydrated, had blood coming from its rectum and had freshly deposited fly eggs in his mouth and eyes.

The caretaker of the puppy told Animal Law Enforcement they believed the puppy, named Lucias, was displaying symptoms of parvovirus. To treat Lucias, the caretaker used Pedialyte and Pepto-Bismol.

“While this case is extremely sad, it serves as a reminder that seeking veterinary care, including humane euthanasia to end suffering, is part of being a responsible pet owner,” said Canchola. “Relying on word-of-mouth ideas for treatment, Google searches, and old wives’ tales to care for your pets can lead to serious illness or fatality for your animal.”

Both the caretaker and pet owner were charged with cruelty to animals due to the extent of suffering he endured. The charge is a misdemeanor, resulting in a citation.

“Failure to seek veterinary care for an animal who is clearly ill is neglectful and results in undue suffering,” said ALE Assistant Director Lindsey Vigna. “We charged both Lucias’ caretaker and owner with cruelty to animals due to the medical evidence that showed he was in a state of distress for a prolonged period of time.”