Starving blind dog “Schatz” found in dumpster in Burton. Beaufort County police looking for owner
Desperate cries from a Burton-area dumpster helped save the life of a severely abused poodle. As the 10-year-old pup – affectionately known as “Treasure” – begins a long recovery, Beaufort County police are trying to charge his owner with animal cruelty.
The treasure was found early Thursday morning by a “good Samaritan” at a S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) office in northern Beaufort County on Parker Drive. The employee heard “yapping and screaming” coming from the parking lot’s dumpster and opened it, finding the dog inside a sealed trash bag with trash and dirty diapers, according to a statement Saturday morning from the Beaufort branch of the nonprofit Noah’s Arks Rescue.
The woman used a piece of fence to rip open the bag and free the dog. By this time, the dumpster should have been picked up and compacted – but the garbage truck was 30 minutes late that morning.
Beaufort County Animal Services took Treasure to Port Royal Veterinary Hospital, where Chief Veterinarian Dr. Marikay Campbell “dropped everything” to ensure the dog’s survival. He was severely malnourished and covered in feces and urine, with up to three inches of matted fur “all over his body” and face. The dog is also blind and has cataracts in both eyes.
Veterinary staff removed two pounds of fur from Treasure, who weighed just 10 pounds total. Due to the dog’s condition, he was likely “confined to a kennel for most of his life,” Noah’s Arks’ post said.
Doctors say Treasure still has a number of medical conditions that require treatment. They are giving him “lots of small meals” to avoid “refeeding syndrome,” a potentially fatal condition that can occur when food is quickly reintroduced after a long period of starvation. Dr. Campbell will also examine Treasure’s eyes to see if surgery could restore his vision.
“Treasure is a sweet, sweet pup who gave kisses to all the staff yesterday,” the Noah’s Arks employee wrote. “Despite his abuse and neglect, he is a loving dog.”
In hopes of pressing charges, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to come forward with any information that might link Treasure to his owner. Police are also trying to find a DNA match in the used diapers found on the dog.
Anyone with information regarding Treasure’s owner is asked to call Sergeant Swalm at 843-255-3215 or the Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry anonymous tip line at 843-554-1111.
The Port Royal Veterinary Hospital has no further information on the situation and advises residents with information to call the sheriff’s office only, according to a Facebook post Saturday morning.
