MSPCA: Dog who was abused, emaciated in need of ‘hero’ adopter as owner faces animal cruelty charges

BOSTON — A dog that was abused and left to starve is in need of a new home after her owner was arrested on animal cruelty charges, the MSPCA said.

Carl Moglika Jr., of Agawam, is facing two counts of animal cruelty in connection with the surrender of Sophie, a four-and-a-half-year-old Pit Bull mix, who was found severely emaciated, according to the MSPCA’s law enforcement division. He is slated to appear in court in July.

Officers responding to a complaint from Moglika’s condominium management office learned neighbors had overheard Sophie being hit and crying in pain.

“Sgt. Loiselle drove Sophie from Agawam to the MSPCA’s Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston because it was clear she needed to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible,” said Thomas Grenham, Director of MSPCA Law Enforcement.

In addition to being emaciated, Sophie had diarrhea, anemia, a fractured tooth, and a thin coat.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Hampden District Attorney’s Office said, “We are happy to hear that Sophie is recovering and her condition is improving. “We are thankful for the people who came forward to alert law enforcement of the inhumane treatment, which resulted in Sophie getting the treatment she needed and her owner being held accountable.”

Despite what she’s been through, shelter staff say that Sophie is incredibly friendly, and loving, but her past trauma has impacted some of her behavior.

“It was heartbreaking to see Sophie’s condition when she first came to us,” MSPCA-Angell Director of Adoption Centers and Programs Mike Keiley said. “We’ve been able to nurse her back to health, physically, but there are still some behavioral challenges that we’re working through.”

Keiley noted that those challenges include resource guarding, which is a tendency for some dogs to growl, lunge, or even bite, to guard their food or toys.

“Our team is working hard to help Sophie learn how to communicate with people in a new way,” Keiley explained. “Having lived in an environment in which normal forms of dog communication were being ignored, she has to learn those skills from the beginning.”

Morgan Katz, MSPCA-Angell director of behavior services – adoption centers, is now asking for “hero” adopters to step forward to give Sophie the wonderful home she deserved.

“Despite her history, Sophie has a big personality and is silly and engaging,” Katz said. “She loves being around people and is constantly seeking affection from them. We know that she can thrive in the right home with ‘hero adopters’ able to continue the behavior support she’s been receiving in our care.”

The MSPCA is looking for an adopter in an adult-only household with no other pets who is committed to working with a behavior professional to provide the on-going support she needs.

Interested adopters can apply at mspca.org/bostonadopt.

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