Syracuse, NY – Syracuse Police Animal Cruelty Officers responded to a distressing call on Thursday, May 4, regarding a dog left alone in a basement at a residence on Delaware Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered a severely malnourished German Shepherd, now named Hope, clinging to life on the basement’s dirt floor.
Hope’s condition was immediately deemed critical, prompting a swift decision to transport her to the Veterinary Medical Center for urgent treatment and comprehensive testing. The examination revealed that she scored a mere 1 out of 9 on the body condition scale, indicating the most severe level of emaciation possible. Additionally, tests confirmed that she had been ingesting gravel from the basement floor, as traces were found in her stomach. During her ordeal, Hope experienced cardiac arrest but was successfully resuscitated by the hospital staff.
Law enforcement authorities were able to identify the owner of the neglected dog as 42-year-old Hortence Ngarissona. Ngarissona was subsequently apprehended and charged with two counts of animal cruelty. She has since been released on an appearance ticket pending further legal proceedings.
The successful rescue and ongoing recovery of Hope would not have been possible without the invaluable contributions of several organizations. The Animal Alliance of Greater Syracuse, HumaneCNY, and Veterinary Medical Center of CNY all played significant roles in saving Hope’s life, and their assistance is deeply appreciated.