Rainbow Brige: Belgian Malinois Named Elta Malnourished And Tattooed

[Sugar Cookie]

Recently uncovered information on a malnourished, tattooed dog have only led to more questions.

On Tuesday, Animal Care Services asked the public for help finding more information about a tattoo on a Belgian Malinois' found during an animal cruelty investigation.


In a matter of hours, KSAT 12 viewers found possible leads in the dog's case.

KSAT 12 viewers shared online records that show the dog, who was being called "Lady," is actually named "Elta" and is from a small town in Belgium.

We are amazed at how quickly your viewers were able to solve this pretty girl’s mystery tattoo," ACS spokesperson Lisa Norwood said. "We know her name is Elta and she’s 12-years-old but how does a dog get from a small town in Belgium to a backyard in South Texas? That’s what we hope to find out and we’ve reached out to her original owner to see if he can shed a light on how Elta came to be in San Antonio."

According to an online registry in Belgium, Elta is 12-years-old and was born in Orp LeGrand which is Southeast of Brussels.

How Elta got to San Antonio is unknown, but online records show she had a passport for international travel.

ACS and KSAT have reached out to the breeder linked to Elta to get a better idea of how she ended up in the backyard of a South Side home.

www.ksat.com/news/ksat-viewers-help-solve-mystery-of-malnourished-tattooed-dog

 

[Dead Stephanie]

She’s looks so pretty. Ship her to my house!

 

[Sejanus]

Likely a quick and dirty sale or she was shipped for breeding and the guy in Texas renegged.

 

[Satanica]

Maybe was originally brought over to be a police dog originally. Instead of editing, I think I'll go ahead and add another originally.

 

[Stormcloud]

... makes you wonder if they stole her to breed from, tbh.

And then, when she got too old...

 

[Muriel Schwenck]

Dog died two days after rescue.

https://www.ksat.com/news/malnourished-abused-dog-found-in-december-dies-over-holidays
"
She was taken into ACS custody on Dec. 19, but ACS spokeswoman Lisa Norwood confirmed in an email to KSAT.com Thursday that Elta died on Dec. 21 due to complications from her condition. :

 

[Fellofftheporch]

Well that was fucked up and sad.

 

[Totemic]

That was not the update I was expecting.... that shit suck. Poor pretty pupper

 

[Sugar Cookie]

A severely malnourished Belgian Malinois found in mid-December during an animal cruelty investigation died only a few days after being taken into Animal Care Services’ custody, ACS officials confirmed Thursday.

ACS officials had asked the media for help in getting the word out about a mysterious tattoo on the dog's right ear that appeared to read: B-H-K-E-D-E. Then, hours after making the dog’s story public, KSAT 12 uncovered online records that show the dog -- named "Lady" by ACS -- was actually named "Elta," and was from a small town in Belgium.

She was taken into ACS custody on Dec. 19, but ACS spokeswoman Lisa Norwood confirmed in an email to KSAT.com Thursday that Elta died on Dec. 21 due to complications from her condition.

Norwood said in cases of animal malnourishment, it can be difficult in the first weeks of rehabilitation.

"(Humans) can control the urge (to overeat), so what can happen when you have an animal that’s really malnourished, you have to put in place a feeding protocol," Norwood said. "If the animal does gorge itself, there’s a possibility of making its situation even worse because they won’t regulate themselves."

ACS staff later noticed Elta was lethargic, Norwood said, and took her to a partner clinic for treatment, where staff were unable to save the dog's life.

Online records show Elta was brought to the United States and received Schutzhund training.

Her former owner, who asked to remain anonymous because he had not had custody of the dog for several years, said she was highly trained in protection, tracking and obedience.

Her previous owner told KSAT.com that he had sold Elta in 2014 to a man in a San Antonio park, claiming to need a dog for protection. The previous owner said he sold Elta because he was no longer breeding or training her.

ACS said the case against her "apparent owner" is being finalized by animal cruelty investigators to go the district attorney.

Malnourished, tattooed dog found in December dies in ACS custody

A severely malnourished Belgian Malinois found in mid-December during an animal cruelty investigation died only a few days after being taken into Animal Care Services’ custody, ACS officials confirmed Thursday.

www.ksat.com

 

[Granmaw]

Sounds like that poor little lady was used and sold over and over until she could no longer provide anything for her selfish "owners", then left to starve. Would have been ok if this was a tool or something, but this was a living, breathing, feeling creature. She spent her life helping others and it is a crying shame that she was rewarded like this. Used up and thrown away like garbage.