On October 1, 2014, animal control officers from Biddeford, Maine, rescued a malnourished white-and-brown terrier that was abandoned in a foreclosed home for 15 days. The previous home owners now face animal cruelty charges.
Sixty-one-year-old Bruce W. Friedel and his wife lost their home and on September 17, 2014, they abandoned the property leaving behind their dog and cat. Both animals were left with no food or water, nor did they have access to the outside.
Thanks to a tip, animal control learned of the pets in need and on the first of the month, officers visited the property to rescue the animals. When the doors were opened they found the floors covered with urine and feces.
“As officers entered the 1 Joshua Drive property, they were overwhelmed by an overpowering smell of urine, feces and filth,” said Deputy Biddeford Police Chief JoAnne Fisk. “The floor inside the property was covered with over a dozen piles of feces, [and] puddles of urine were also observed over the floors. There was no evidence of any water or food for the animals that was recognizable as animal food.”
Upon entering the residence, officers found a malnourished and underweight dog suffering from skin irritations and loss of hair. The cat was covered in fleas and had a broken leg.
Because the dog was fearful of humans he was muzzled prior to transport. At the vet clinic, the dog lost a tooth when the muzzle was removed, but veterinarians say this happened due to the dog’s advanced gum disease. The dog was also diagnosed with yeast and fungal infections on his skin.
Friedel has a court appearance on Dec. 17.