Overview
- Officer Alexandra Maloney stopped a car on Nov. 24 for a red-light violation and saw a significantly underweight puppy inside.
- Investigators determined the 27-year-old Taunton driver owned the dog, and police have moved to charge him with animal cruelty via a court summons.
- Sprout was taken to Westbridge Veterinary Referral Hospital for urgent care and then transferred to the Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusetts for rehabilitation.
- Shelter updates report she arrived severely anemic with a hematocrit around 15% and improved to about 28 after a transfusion under close monitoring.
- APCSM says recovery will take time, adoption inquiries are paused, and the group is fundraising for medical costs as the owner’s name remains withheld pending a criminal complaint.