By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com
Glancing at snapshots of a rescued dog, Ashtabula County Humane Society agent Donna Yan did a double-take.
“I actually had to ask if the dog in the picture is the same dog we dropped off a couple of months ago,” Yan said. “He didn’t just survive; he is thriving.”
Humane agents rescued Dexter the dog from Greg Dovalosky’s Rome Township property in August, where the animal was found with an infected gash and his body was nearly bald from mange, Yan said.
“Now, he is looking so much healthier,” Yan said. “You look at Dexter, and you can’t believe he is the same dog.”
Yan said Dexter’s litter mates died before humane agents took seven dogs from Dovalosky’s home.
Dovalosky is charged with eight counts of cruelty to animals, Western County Court records show. Ashtabula County Humane Society (ACHS) agents seized six puppies and one adult dog from his property, ACHS agent Colleen Fobes said.
Yan said though one puppy died almost immediately after the seizure, Dexter and the others are getting along just fine after some intensive treatment from Austinburg veterinarian Becky Salinger. The dogs suffered from mange, fleas, intestinal parasites, and they were malnourished, Fobes said.
Fobes said Dovalosky still has more than 10 wild dogs on his property, dogs that are not getting the treatment and veterinary care they need.
“(Dovalosky) feeds them bread he gets for free and uses garlic salt to treat their internal parasites. The dogs are so wild they run off into the woods when he yells, so we can’t capture them,” Fobes said.
Dovalosky could not be reached for comment Thursday.
The humane agents hope Dovalosky, who will be the subject of a competency hearing Wednesday in Western County Court, will allow humane agents to capture, treat and relocate the remaining dogs.
“The dogs that can be adopted could have wonderful new homes,” Yan said. “The other dogs are suffering. Dogs are supposed to be companion animals, and these dogs are not being treated as companions. They are being neglected.”
The humane agents are gathering funds to pay off veterinarian bills for Dexter and the other dogs taken from Dovalosky’s property.
“The dogs are so happy, so happy to be in loving homes and with people who care about them. They were itchy and bald and starving, and now they are thriving,” Yan said.
The Humane Society is in dire need of puppy food and pads, along with money for the veterinarian bills. Anyone interested in donating supplies or money to help with the dogs’ care can do so by calling 969-6100, by dropping off food or sending a check to the Ashtabula County Humane Society, 2806 Route 307, Austinburg, 44010.
