Couple wanted for starving puppy

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Police say a pit bull puppy abandoned in Decatur was so malnourished that she couldn’t stand or lift her head.

Now police are searching for the couple who abandoned the dog. They could face animal cruelty charges, DeKalb County Police spokeswoman Officer Jason Gagnon said Friday.

“Little Bit,” a mixed breed pit bull was left at The Village Vets of Decatur on Sept. 28, police said.

A woman brought the puppy into the vet and started to fill out some paperwork. She then fled, leaving the incomplete forms and the dog in the lobby, Gagnon said.

The woman listed her name as Tamika Howard, but investigators determined that was a fake name.

The vet called police, complaining that “an extremely malnourished female canine” had been dropped off. The puppy was about four to six months old.

“She was so emaciated that she could not stand on her own nor lift her head,” Gagnon said.

Police are investigating the case as animal cruelty.

“The veterinary clinic ran several tests on the dog, but found no illness or disease,” Gagnon said. “After reviewing the test results, detectives believe food was intentionally withheld from the puppy.”

The dog, which is still being treated at The Village Vets, has gained about four pounds and is expected to live, police said.

The suspects were captured on the office’s video surveillance cameras. They were last seen fleeing in a black SUV.

The suspects are described as a black male and a black female. The male suspect is about 5-feet-9 inches tall, 180 pounds with a low haircut and some facial hair. The female suspect is described as about 5-feet-5 inches tall, 150-170 pounds with her hair pulled back in a ponytail.

Anyone with information about the dog or the suspects may contact the DeKalb police animal cruelty unit at 404-294-2645.