posted November 07, 2014 10:29 AM            

According to Thurston County, Washington officials, the necropsy performed on a dog named Wolfy indicated "extreme animal cruelty." Wolfy was well-known in the town of Bucoda, Washington - he often wandered the streets after his original owner succumbed to cancer seven years ago. Many thought that he was still searching for her. He looked for seven long years.

Joint Animal Services in Thurston County necropsied Wolfy last month - and the results of this necropsy reveal a lifetime's worth of suffering - and a prolonged and painful death. The Felony Division of the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office recommended first degree animal cruelty charges for both the dog’s owner and for the man who shot Wolfy.

Wolfy's necropsy revealed rocks in his stomach - a clear indication of starvation, according to Officer Erika Johnson at Joint Animal Services. The necropsy also revealed hemorrhaging after Wolfy was shot - indicating that he did not die instantly, but instead, had a long, drawn out, slow death.

Johnson filed a consideration for charges of animal cruelty in the first degree on Oct. 28. Charges have not yet been filed and the name of the shooter and of Wolfy's owner have not yet been released. An online petition asking for justice for Wolfy was started by a friend of Seattle Pets Examiner. It currently has 31,000 signatures - and it's still growing.

A second petition was created by Seattle DogSpot - read and sign it here.

Bucoda's Mayor, Alan Carr, stated that someone called city hall last month with concerns about Wolfy's condition, but stated that the animal control officer was out of town. As a result, the town was unable to investigate. Carr said that Wolfy's owner then relinquished the dog to "someone else" - and then Wolfy died.

“We saw the dog almost every day," stated Carr. "You’d see him walking the streets. He never went out of city limits and he never bothered anyone.”

Every day - and no one did anything - for SEVEN years?

According to Johnson, the case has garnered international attention. But apparently, Wolfy's condition did not garner the attention of the residents of Bucoda, Washington: according to Mayor Carr, there were no prior complaints of animal abuse for Wolfy.

How tragic that help did not come soon enough for Wolfy. This poor, neglected soul who was struggling to walk suffered so very much. No animal deserves this. Let’s not let those who were responsible for his suffering and death go unpunished.

Please ensure that they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Share this story - be his voice. No one looked or listened when Wolfy was alive, but animal advocates won't let this case rest now that we're aware of it.