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Woman charged for allegedly starving puppy

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer Updated 5:32 PM Wednesday, October 21, 2009

OXFORD — An Oxford woman is being accused of nearly starving her puppy nearly to death.

Cathy Conklin of Oxford has been charged with one count of animal cruelty after she called 911 Friday, Oct. 16, to report that a starving dog had been dumped on her doorstep. She later admitted to owning the dog, according to a report by our television partner WKRC (Channel 12).

The dog was checked over by veterinarians at the Animal Friends Humane Society in Hamilton and was found to be severely emaciated due to not being fed “for quite some time. This didn’t happen overnight,” said Meg Stephenson, director of the shelter.

The dog, believed to be a terrier mix named Corie, weighed in at just 3.7 pounds and is 10 months old. She is currently staying with an animal foster family, Stephenson said, and has already gained a pound, or 20 percent of her body weight, in the few days she has been in Animal Friends’ care.

Stephenson said this is the worst case of animal neglect she has seen yet since she joined Animal Friends in August 2008.

“Dogs that are alive in this condition we rarely see. We’re here for the community to turn to because most of the time people who are struggling to take care of a pet, they bring them to us before this point,” she said. “To see an animal in this condition is just appalling because it is obvious that she was just not getting enough food.”

Once Corie is well enough, she will be adopted out, Stephenson said.

Conklin is set to appear in court next month. The charge carries a $750 fine as well as jail time.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.

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