Neglected Portage County dog now able to walk

KENT, Ohio - The severely neglected dog found at a Portage County house is improving each day.

A tip call on Saturday to the Portage Animal Protective League led humane officers to a house in Hiram, where a Siberian husky, now named Lucky, was barely hanging onto life.

On Friday, executive director of the Portage APL Chalan Lawry said Lucky is walking on her own, as she improves day by day. The dog, whose age is estimated at 10 years old, was able to determine that her food had medication in it and snubbed it. Lawry said veterinarians have to find another creative way to get her to take her medicine.

Earlier this week, the dog’s prognosis wasn’t good. She was matted, emaciated and gasping for air. Lucky was covered in open sores, wasn’t about to stand and was running a fever above 105 degrees. At the time, the Portage APL wasn’t sure if the dog would make it.

"We actually had technicians walk away because they couldn't watch her be put to sleep,” Dr. Jaime Marietti said on Wednesday. They gave the poor pooch a little time and she started to respond to treatment.

Lucky will stay at the Stow-Kent Animal Hospital for another week, and then she will probably be placed in a foster home.

“She's not going to be one of those dogs you can just take home and open the back door and she can go outside. She's going to need help,” Marietti said.