Neglected, abused Lorain pitbull Herbie dies after fight with cancer

LORAIN, Ohio - The resilient Lorain dog that battled back from neglect and abuse has lost his battle with cancer.

Herbie the pitbull died Friday afternoon, an officer caring for him posted on a page devoted to the dog.

“Herbie died in my arms at approximately 2:00 P.M. Ohio time. I know that if he could talk, he would tell all of you how much he loved each and everyone of you and you were the reason he was able to fight for so long,” Officer Rick Broz wrote.

Herbie was found on Dec. 2 barely alive, weighing only 25 pounds, in the 800 block of West 11th St.

After being given a loving home, Herbie fought hard to recover, slowly gaining weight and improving. However, in December, he was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, a non-operable and non-responsive form of cancer.

When Herbie stopped eating, causing him to lose weight and muscle over the course of the past two weeks, Broz knew it was the dog’s time to go.

“I did not wish to see him start to suffer. In his way, he told me yesterday that he was ready to leave us. I told Dr. Woods of my wishes and he agreed that it was time,” Broz said.

The community has rallied around Herbie, showing love and support for the pitbull. Hundreds attended a February vigil to raise awareness about animal abuse.

For more about Herbie and his story, you can visit the Justice for Herbie Facebook page: http://on.wews.com/15Xm8xZ