An owner is being charged with felony animal cruelty for leaving a dog frozen to the ground outside in Ecorse, Michigan.
Fox 2 News reports that 10-year-old Elsa was left outside in temperatures of five degrees, with a windchill of -10. Animal control found the Chow mix outside frozen around 10 a.m Tuesday morning.
Patricia Trevino of the River Rouge Animal Shelter says it took about 30 minutes to get the animal unfrozen from where she was laying down. Warm water had to be poured on her. Two legs were frozen and the side of her face and body were “literally” laying on the frozen ground.
It’s unknown how long Elsa was in that situation. She was tangled up in her leash, which prevented her from getting food, water, or shelter. The dog that was frozen to the ground didn’t begin crying out until warm water was poured on her.
Someone noticed Elsa’s plight and called animal control, who took the Chow mix to Healthy Paws Medical Center in Westland.
Trevino tells the news source that Elsa’s feet were bleeding from being frozen. She adds they were “a block of ice. The toes were frozen together.” Elsa might have to receive “extensive” treatment, including frostbite to her ears and paws. It’s possible she could lose a leg, Trevino says. The animal is making progress, however.
Donations for Elsa are being accepted through Healthy Paws at (734)-326-PAWS (7297). So far, $1,000 has been reached for her medical bills.
In an updated report by Fox 2 , Ecorse Police Chief Mike Moore tells them that the unidentified owner says Elsa was put outside at 5 a.m. Tuesday. Another dog owned by the same person was found outside in good health. As the News Herald reveals, the dog was in better condition but still treated.
Neighbor Marylou Rotrock explains that the dog was in bad conditions.
“There was no food in the bowl and some of the excrement had plastic bag pieces in it. So these dogs were eating anything they could.”
Elsa was named by Healthy Paws after the snow queen in the animated Disney film, Frozen . The black dog is said to be friendly and sweet. A lot of people have expressed an interest in adopting her, but she’ll remain with Healthy Paws until she heals and her forever home is found.
The dog that was frozen to the ground has a long road in front of her, but her prognosis looks good.
[Photo Credit: Fox 2 News ]