A 7-year-old male Rottweiler was put to sleep by the RISPCA yesterday after it was determined that the dog was suffering from multiple maladies. Photo from the RISPCA Facebook page.
By Kim Kalunian, WPRO News
A dog said to be found Thursday under an overpass on the Wampanoag Trail in East Providence was put to sleep after the RISPCA determined it was in extremely poor health. The dog, a 7-year-old, unneutered, male Rottweiler, had a large cancerous growth on its rear leg.
“It was a difficult decision,” Dr. E.J. Finocchio, head of the RISPCA, told WPRO’s John DePetro Friday. “It’s not our business at the RISPCA to put dogs to sleep, it’s our job to save them.”
Finocchio said the dog had many health issues which ultimately led to the RISPCA’s (Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) decision to put an end to his suffering.
The RISPCA spent most of the day Thursday looking for the owner of the dog, who has since come forth. Finocchio said the owner of the dog was the man that originally brought the dog in, and fabricated the story about finding the Rottweiler under the bridge.
“He almost did it the right way, but he didn’t,” said Finocchio, who said that pet owners should be proactive about the health of their animals to stay out of trouble. Finocchio said pet owners who face financial trouble can seek help from RISCPA or their veterinarian.
“Failure to provide medical attention to an animal that is exhibiting pain and suffering is against the law,” said Finocchio, adding, “It’s a criminal case right now so we’re going to press charges of animal cruelty.”
Finocchio said that he and the RISPCA want to help, but owners need to be responsible for the pets.
“I don’t want a message to be conveyed to people that we’re going to get in trouble if we take our dog to the SPCA,” he said.
