Case Update: Senior Dog Who Froze to Death at Virginia Beach Pound
February 28, 2013
Remember the police department that runs the Virginia Beach pound announcing they would investigate themselves for wrongdoing in the case of the elderly Pitbull they left outside to freeze to death in 21 degree weather? Well the results of the necropsy are in:
[T]he dog had severe heart and lung disease as well as possible diabetes, all of which contributed to the dog’s death, as well as hypothermia.
Let me preface this thing by pointing out that I am not a veterinarian and I have no idea who conducted the necropsy and reported these findings on Batman, the poor deceased pet. It could be the most qualified forensic vet on the planet for all I know. I am not in any way claiming I have any knowledge which trumps that of the vet who reported these findings.
That said, bullshit. “Severe heart and lung disease” could quite probably apply to every dog who reaches old age and is living in the sunset of his life. It doesn’t mean he was going to fall over dead that day anyway, which is what I think the police department is hoping people will believe. And “possible diabetes” - I’m sorry, what? Did the dog have diabetes or not? Why not put down “possible Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever”? I mean, they didn’t rule that out, did they? Again, a possible medical condition does not indicate that Batman was about to keel over that day.
Batman survived the common old age canine disorders of heart and lung disease before he was impounded by Virginia Beach AC. Batman died because the people who are paid by the public to protect him from harm failed to do their jobs. They left him outside in 21 degree night temperatures where living things freeze. Any attempts to distract from that terrible truth make the police department look even guiltier.
[T]he case remains under investigation by Virginia Beach police.
Gee, can’t hardly wait.
(Thank you Arlene for the link.)
February 28, 2013 at 10:23 am
thank you for the update.. can’t wait to hear the rest of the story
February 28, 2013 at 10:34 am
Here is an radical and revolutionary idea for the Virginia Beach Police Department : don’t leave any dogs outside.
February 28, 2013 at 11:04 am
I can hardly wait to hear the results of the investigation of the police investigating themselves! I’m sure it will be the dog’s fault for not barking loud enough to alert someone that he was outside!!!
February 28, 2013 at 11:15 am
Bullshit is right. If the dog were that unwell to begin with, he should have been more closely supervised than younger, healthier dogs. And if he were properly supervised, he would not have been left out in the cold to die.
The “Well, ya know he was old and sick” is not an excuse to let him die, it’s a mandate to ensure he received extra care.
February 28, 2013 at 1:36 pm
That bullshit excuse would not hold up for an individual. They would be charging them with animal cruelty, neglect, you know – felony charges.
February 28, 2013 at 3:35 pm
According to the article , that is Moyer’s interpretation of the necropsy. A necropsy report will state all of the conditions found post mortem. I’d be interested to see the “official” necropsy report.
February 28, 2013 at 4:20 pm
This is disgraceful but as usual they will not take responsibility,
February 28, 2013 at 6:55 pm
I wrote to the mayor of Va Beach to inform him that the head of the shelter has a personal relationship with someone in the police dept. and feels that she is immune to these things since the police do, indeed, investigate themselves. It has been over a week now and we have heard nothing from any follow-up except “we’re sad because of our loss.” She kills them everyday when she “makes room” because she will not even look at no kill. I told him she takes peoples volunteer badges that make waves and if she took mine after I wrote to him, I would make sure the media knew. There are plenty of people who will talk to an independent commission about the crap that goes on over there. But talk to the police about the police? No way.
March 1, 2013 at 5:30 pm
I’m SO TIRED OF THE BULLSHIT SPREAD BY THOSE WHO ARE PAID TO SHELTER ANIMALS. THIS IS ABUSE AND THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES! WHEN THEY DIE, THEY’LL HAVE TO ANSWER TO GOD AND I HOPE THEY GET WHAT THEY DESERVE. SHELFISH, SADISTIC BASTARDS!!!
March 1, 2013 at 8:28 pm
I just got a message on FB from a woman who is the neighbor to this dogs owner. I have asked her to come to this site to weigh in..
May 24, 2013 at 2:13 pm
So it seems that nothing at all was done to anyone at the shelter and no one was held responsible for Batman’s death. The staff member, NIcole Barrera, who left Batman outside continues to work there and continues to put dogs outside. SO how long will it be before she forgets again and a dog dies of heat stroke this summer? Why was nothing done to her and why was nothing done to anyone at the shelter. That’s right, it’s because the police department investigated themselves. What a joke. And now it seems there is kennel cough going rampantly around the shelter and they cant control it. Well, I have an idea on that one, Why not make the staff workers there actually clean and sanitize the kennels the way they should, instead of rushing through it so they can go smoke or chat with their friends. And how about finding a shelter director who actually cares. One who will leave the office once in a while and see what;s really going on.