MI: Angel the pit bull's starvation death shines spotlight on animal cruelty

Angel the pit bull's starvation death shines spotlight on animal cruelty
8:49 AM, Jan 4, 2013


Angel’s spine and ribs protruded through her thin skin.

The American pit bull terrier was so emaciated, according to an animal rescue group, that she was barely able to hold herself up.

Angel died four days after being taken in November from the home of Lisa Precourt. Precourt, 19, who told authorities she lost her job and wasn’t able to care for her two dogs, has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.

The group that helped cared for Angel in her last days say they hope her story encourages people to speak up if they see an animal in trouble.

“I hope it opens a lot of eyes for a lot of people and they pay more attention to a dog starving or neglected or abused,” said Bill Bellottie, president and co-founder of Detroit Bully Corps. “It’s not just about the dog, it’s about creating better a community, as well.”

Precourt declined to comment Thursday night.

Angel’s story began in November, when Bellottie said supporters of Detroit Bully Corps, an Ann Arbor-based organization that rescues and rehabilitates pit bulls and other so-called bully breeds, saw a posting on Facebook about a dog in need of a good home. Bellottie said they went to Precourt’s apartment in Sterling Heights and were shocked by what they saw. They took the dog and called Detroit Bully Corps.

“It was absolutely emaciated. This dog had zero, zero body fat,” Bellottie said.

He said the 14-month-old dog -- named Kilo but renamed Angel by the rescue group -- weighed 19.4 pounds when she should have been between 35 and 40 pounds. She was taken to a veterinarian in Ann Arbor, where she died.

Bellottie said pieces of a plastic bowl and blue jean material were found in her stomach, indicating she was eating whatever she could find.

Bellottie said Detroit Bully Corps members picked up a second underweight pit bull from Precourt named Chaos and contacted Sterling Heights police. The dog was renamed Shiner and is doing well at the rescue group’s shelter, Bellottie said.

He said Precourt willingly signed both dogs over to the group.

Detroit Bully Corps set up a Facebook page, Angel & Shiner’s Journey, to spread their story.

Sterling Heights Police Lt. Luke Riley said Precourt told authorities that she feared the dogs would be put down if she took them to an animal shelter.

“She didn’t want to take the dogs to the animal shelter because she was afraid they’d be put to sleep,” he said. “She just waited too long to try to give them up for adoption. …

“She had lost her job, and couldn’t afford to feed herself hardly, let alone the dogs.”

Precourt pleaded guilty Wednesday in 41A District Court in Sterling Heights to one count of abandoning/cruelty to an animal, a 93-day misdemeanor, and one count of abandoning/cruelty to an animal resulting in death, which is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.

Riley said Precourt, who is now living with relatives in Shelby Township, has expressed remorse.

“These dogs didn’t get in the shape they were in overnight,” he said. “I know she’s very remorseful about what happened. But it still doesn’t excuse it.”



http://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20130104/NEWS05/301040003/Angel-pit-bull-s-starvation-death-shines-spotlight-animal-cruelty