Hundreds gather at vigil for abused, neglected Lorain pitbull Herbie to raise awareness

LORAIN, Ohio - Hundreds of people gathered over the weekend on the boardwalk of Lakeview Park in Lorain to raise awareness about animal abuse in honor of the ever-recuperating severely abused and neglected pitbull Herbie.

The vigil began around 6:45 p.m. Saturday and lasted until 8 p.m. Some 440 people on Facebook said they attended.

"Thank you to everyone that came out and to everyone that lit a candle at home. This is one more stop on the road to getting laws passed to protect all animals from abuse and neglect," said one attendee. "As long as there is a need, we will continue to fight for what is right."

Those who came to the vigil signed a white sheet with well wishes, thoughts and prayers for Herbie, who not only was severely neglected, but also was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Meanwhile, officer Rick Broz has been keeping Herbie at his home, letting him rest comfortably and play. Broz posted the following update on the Justice for Herbie Facebook page recently:

"The boys are back! Herbie is back at my house, resting comfortably in his bed. He seemed to know what was happening as he seemed excited when he realized I was there at the clinic. I was told that he has been much more active during the last three days, so I guess my spoiling him worked! He was quite restless during the ride home in the Jeep, kept getting up and 'looking' around like 'are we there yet?' In the house, he felt completely at ease, went to where his freshly laundered bed was and climbed in to lie down. Still a little early for him, but after he rests a little and eats, I'll bring him downstairs to the "Man Cave" and we'll kick back, have a few brews, watch some NASCAR....you know, 'guy things.'"

After being spoiled for the weekend, Herbie came back to the Lorain Animal Clinic where he is content and continues to live pain-free with his illness.

Herbie was found on Dec. 2 barely alive in the 800 block of West 11th St., weighing only 25 pounds. He's since packed on some weight and continues to be cared for and loved by workers at the shelter and beyond.