Pit Bull Starved in Brooklyn

Thursday, May 10, 2012 - 2:00pm
Neglected Dog Before and After

Drew before and after.

Three-month-old Drew was skin and bones the day he arrived at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital.  His owner, Leedell Walker, claimed the pup had not been eating—then proceeded to give up custody of the dog and leave. The hospital team knew something was very wrong and contacted ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement (HLE).

After a full examination, forensic veterinarians confirmed that the near-death Drew was in a critical state of shock and severely anemic. The vets concluded that 37-pound Drew had been starved.

It didn’t take long to for HLE to conclude its case. Walker, 57, was arrested by Special Agent Bradley English and charged with one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty. If convicted, he faces up to one year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Walker is due in Kings County Criminal Court on June 11.

Drew continues his recovery, and now weighs 65 pounds—a 76 percent increase! This handsome boy will soon be made available for adoption.

If you suspect an animal may be the victim of neglect or abuse, please report it.

Tags: 
Animal Cruelty
Humane Law Enforcement
NYC

Comments

Thu, 05/10/2012 - 17:22 — diane (Visitor)
one year n one thousand dollars was never enough.. im very blessing that drew is healthy now even better than too late... hope the very good n honest new owner adopt n give drew plenty of love n hugs n very good take care of drew w/plenty of food n water.. God bless drew. BIG hugs

Thu, 05/10/2012 - 17:35 — Michele Martin (Visitor)
One year and one thousand dollars is not enough time for someone to do this to a dog - he needs more time in jail and then to have to work at a rescue center caring for dogs that come in (supervised of course) - how cruel and irresponsible to do this to a sweet dog

Thu, 05/10/2012 - 17:50 — Al Day (Visitor)
The former owner of this dog should be deprived of food the same way he deprived the dog of food. Sickening!.

Thu, 05/10/2012 - 17:51 — Sandra Bennington (Visitor)
The charge for animal cruelty should be a FELONY!!!

Thu, 05/10/2012 - 18:09 — Donna (Visitor)
But, in Maryland a new law just passed, pit bulls deserve this kind of treatment because if your dog bites someone and it happens to be a pit bull it will be put down - this is a dog-specific law and only applies to pit bulls.

Thu, 05/10/2012 - 18:37 — emily kelly (Visitor)
What this country does not understand is that, if someone can torture and starve something that can't defend itself there is a SEVERE mental disorder. Look up any serial killer, they tortured animals as young adults and children. Why do we let these people back out on the street just because they can afford bail!? It is absolutely outrageous, these people should have longer jail times and then after be forced into a psychiatric hospital for another long stay as well. Absolutely disgusting.

Thu, 05/10/2012 - 18:44 — Matthew (Visitor)
Im so glad the pit bull is doing better.That poor baby. Altho I wouldnt want a pit bull NO animal deserves to be treated that way. I wish people would remember humans domesticated animals. It is WRONG to just leave them. There is also a misconseption about turning in a dog at a shelter. From the research and phone calls Ive made no shelter EVER charges someone for dropping offf a animal. Im sure somewhere one has but people will loose theire homes to foreclosure and just leave their pets there to fend for themselves. Its wrong. If your going to adopt a animal and it gets to the point to where you cant care or keep them anymore then do the right thing. Id rather see them put down humanely than starve to death. I also believe if you mistreat a animal.. beat them.. hurt them...starve them. You should be BEATEN! Anyone that will hurt a animal will hurt another person. Child or whoever. They DO NOT care! I wish we could help and save them all. Animals love us unconditionallly. No matter who you aare, what you did, what you look like....They love us..They deserve that love back. Our Gracie which is a Golden Retriever gets pampered as she is our child. They all should be loved and cared for! PERIOD! Anyone that hurts them should be beaten! PERIOD!

Thu, 05/10/2012 - 19:06 — Debra Perry (Visitor)
Shameful!

Thu, 05/10/2012 - 19:26 — robin (Visitor)
I think that every person who inflicts cruelty on an animal no matter what it is should be put through the same abuse they put the poor animal through!!! And the punishment is definately not harsh enough. I would save an animal before a person any day!!

Thu, 05/10/2012 - 19:38 — sean (Visitor)
I guess I will never understand how some heartless people can abuse animals, that guy is lucky I don't live next door and seen this , there would be two arrest made one for him , and one for me after I beat him senseless !!!!

Thu, 05/10/2012 - 22:16 — Mitzi B.Santos (Visitor)
1000 fine and or 1 year in jail??Why not more money as a fine and more time or BOTH!!!and then when he is released 5 yrs community service at an animal shelter...now THAT is punishment!!

Thu, 05/10/2012 - 23:42 — Sheila Haeusler (Visitor)
It never fails to amaze me how so-called 'humans' can inflict such suffering on any creature, yet alone one so young. I can't imagine the pain the poor little fella was in. The penalty given to this 'man' definitely wasn't big enough. I just hope little Drew gets a wonderful forever home with people who will really love and respect him.

Fri, 05/11/2012 - 16:51 — Sheri Schdongold (Visitor)
He is becoming the beauty he always could be. I am glad Drew was able to be helped. His owner, on the other hand, could be tarred, feathered and ridden out of town on a rail and that would still be too good for him. It is too bad that we don't have a registry, like the sex abusers, for animal abusers and then we could check and not allow them to adopt.

Fri, 05/11/2012 - 18:48 — Sonia Otero (Visitor)
How can we as human beings turn a blind eye to such a horrible situation! I am sure SOMEONE must have seen what was going on. They are just as guilty, by association, for not doing a dam thing to help, to prevent this.

Sat, 05/12/2012 - 11:00 — jessica (Visitor)
I think the guy should get a minimum of 10 years in prison AND a $1 million fine. teach him that abusing animals is abhorent and will NOT be tolerated.

Sat, 05/12/2012 - 13:40 — David and Donna Erke (Visitor)
I think the owner needs to be starved and locked away for life!

Sat, 05/12/2012 - 23:12 — Debbie (Visitor)
As horrible as this story is, it does my heart good to read comments from fellow animal lovers and realize there are lots of good people out there who care very much. I'd like to see the laws change in each state so that animal cruelty is classified as a felony, not a misdemeanor. I'd also like to see the launch of a national animal abuser registry so that people with a history of animal cruelty are not allowed to own, breed or work in a job involving the welfare of animals.

Mon, 05/14/2012 - 09:20 — Sandra (Visitor)
I work with Drew every week and I nick name him "Don Draper" because he is such a charmer. He loves hugs and kisses, especially kisses just like his namesake. His next forever parents are going to be very lucky to have such a wonderful dog join their family. Lovely, lovely dog.

Mon, 05/14/2012 - 11:34 — jme (Visitor)
He better get at least 1 year ! I doubt he'll even have to pay 200 bucks and that just sickens me, throw his ass in jail for life and start sending a message that this will NOT be tolerated or crap like this will keep going on for years . Law makers get your head out of your asses and actually do something about this how about ?!

Thu, 02/28/2013 - 11:45 — d (Visitor)
agreed.

Mon, 05/14/2012 - 11:36 — jme (Visitor)
Oh and Im sooooooooooooooooo happy to see the pup is on the mend and on the right track, I adopted a dog that was all bones when I first got her and now shes as healthy as can be and starting to love life again and thats a pretty amazing feeling to undo and teach love again to a dog that has been abused like this ...

Mon, 05/14/2012 - 12:09 — Desiree Dow (Visitor)
I am soooo happy that Drew has gained so much weight and I hope/pray that he continues to do so. Not a day goes by where my heart isn't weary from all the abuse that happens to these poor innocent animals. I wish that the sentences would be more extensive though. Good luck Drew. I'm routing from ya!

Tue, 05/15/2012 - 11:45 — Lolo (Visitor)
As soon as I saw Drew's pictures and read his story I called my rescued pup over for a cuddle. Drew will be in our prayers.

Tue, 05/15/2012 - 12:36 — Kyle (Visitor)
Absolutely disgusting. Such a shame that someone can do this to an animal and receive a slap on the wrist. It's highly unlikely this scumbag will receive anything more than a $50 fine. Without severe consequences, what is preventing sick people from continuing this cowardly act? It's so nice to see that the poor dog is recovering. This is one case where I wish the pitbull could've mauled its owner.

Tue, 05/15/2012 - 12:46 — Kyle (Visitor)
It breaks my heart to see stories like this. Although I'm very happy that Drew is recovering, and has hopefully found his forever home, I just can't fathom how there are people in this world capable of such evil. To me, animals are the greatest gift to us humans. My wife and I rescued two shih tzus, and they're our entire lives. Our second shih tzu was rescued last year from a high kill shelter after his owner gave him up because he wasn't breeding. He came to us in terrible conditions (crooked teeth, matted hair, underweight, extremely timid, etc). It's been a year now, and he has come such a long way. He has gained 5 pounds, loves to cuddle, and eats like a horse! And most importantly, he is starting to see that all humans are not bad. My wife and I went to our local SPCA this weekend to register to volunteer. We came across this one small dog that just got dropped off the previous day. Apparently, she was in such bad shape - according to the vet - that there wasn't much hope for her. I wasn't able to pet her, but it was obvious to see the pain and fear in her eyes. I broke down and had to leave. I just couldn't believe someone would neglect an animal to the point where the only solution is euthanasia. Anyways, I hope that poor dog is now resting in piece with her family and friends. Here's to hoping that one day soon we'll see change in animal abuse and neglect and maybe those convicted will do some serious jail time.

Tue, 05/15/2012 - 13:20 — Melinda (Visitor)
This kind of thing has got to be stopped now. Animals have feelings too!!!!!

Wed, 05/16/2012 - 07:29 — Linda (Visitor)
I think that there should be a law that anytime an animal is abused that the low life who did the abusing should get definite jail time. No more slaps on the wrist, because once they leave the courtroom they just spit in the face of the Judge and find another animal to abuse. Just like child abusers. They go to court and told "Don't do it again" and the next you hear is that a certain Judge gave the abuser probation and they go and do it again. I think it is so ridulous!!!!!!! Let's stop pussyfooting around and make the laws stand for something instead of a stupid slap on the wrist. Do you hear them they are laughing at the Judge again!!!

Fri, 05/18/2012 - 10:34 — rose severson (Visitor)
there is a law but they arnt inforcing it enuff so the pet abuse law should be enforced more because it is happening more and more often.

Wed, 05/16/2012 - 12:47 — Elaina (Visitor)
In my eyes whatever the person does to these dogs should be done to them. He starved this poor animal they should starve him.I have 4 pit bulls one of which was found she was starved and abused and I wish I could get my hands on who ever did it to her.It amazes me if you don't wanna take care of these animals don't get them in the first place

Wed, 05/16/2012 - 16:43 — JMeyer (Visitor)
I think he should be incarcerated for as long as allowable and while he's there he should be put on a starvation diet of bread and water for about 3 or 4 months just like he did to his dog and see how he enjoys seeing his bones stick out and his skin peel off. People who have no compassion for animals in my opinion probably make poor parents and even worse human beings.

Wed, 05/16/2012 - 22:13 — Ronnie (Visitor)
Thank God Drew got rescued and is recovering! He is not suffering anymore! I am sure Drew will find a good forever home and Mr. Walker will see that what he did was very wrong.

Fri, 05/18/2012 - 01:14 — valerie (Visitor)
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR HELPING THIS BEAUTIFUL SOUL. I AM SO GLAD HE HAS RECEIVED THE CARE AND LOVE THUS FAR. MAY A BEAUTIFUL SOUL GIVE HIM A FOREVER HOME.

Fri, 05/18/2012 - 09:55 — Katisha (Visitor)
The police and public can have a say and basically control certain baby cribs, how you raise a child, living conditions for the elderly and children, whats a reasonable living area, how much you should weigh, and how many pets is too many pets but they can't, or more like it WON'T, do anything about animal abuse. If the same happened to a child the man will be in jail for life or 30 years with a $150,000 fine. If it happened to a pregnant woman he'll be in jail for life or 30 years with a $150,00 fine. If it happened to a pregnant dog or a puppy he'll be in jail for a year and a $1,000 fine. Now what does he learn, if anything? Such unfairness to animals. We need to actually try and help the animals people! Take advantage of America in debt and make the fines higher then people will actually learn something, since money is all that infuences people these days.

Fri, 05/18/2012 - 10:32 — rose severson (Visitor)
Some people abuse animals for entertainment of hurting others or things who don’t deserve the horrible things. Other times they do it because they want to see things hurt and call themselves strong and the others week and walk around all proud with what they did to the poor helpless animal and try it on a human. Others do it for no reason at all they just do it to do it and don’t even think about it as hurting an animal. So would we humans like to be the next abused things in the world or continue on animals? If all of us stand and fight to prevent all animal cruelty. The poor animals are getting stuff they dont deserve

Thu, 06/28/2012 - 10:23 — Amber Graham (Visitor)
that is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo sad i just want to cry

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Wed, 12/05/2012 - 11:30 — Laurie (Visitor)
If we REALLY want to solve these animal cruelty problems we need to lobby our lawmakers to create laws that judges will enforce with much stiffer penalties. Only when cruel people know they will serve jail time will the horror end. For years my next door neighbor left her beautiful husky tied up in the back yard, alone and often without food and water. Several times we had to rescue him from rising flood waters or the scorching summer heat. Several times the local animal rescue team was called, but nothing was ever done to help poor Cody. Why is it that there is no anti-tethering law across this country? How is it that the pets who trust us are so many times allowed to go hungry or thirsty? It's because WE allow it through our complacency. I hope that one day we live in a world where animals like Cody are rescued the very first time the Animal Welfare people are notified.

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Thu, 02/28/2013 - 11:43 — NinjaKing3 (Visitor)
Walker should ROT IN PRISON!!! Refuse him food and water and see how he likes it! HE SHALL DIE IN PRISON!

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