Meet Treasure. He's three months old. Someone dumped him with two broken legs, a broken jaw, and a belly full of rocks.
They abandoned him by a dumpster in Henderson like garbage.
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Treasure was found last week near the Valley Ranch Animal Hospital. He was thin. He was starving.
Maybe that's why his stomach is full of rocks that might be ripping up his insides on their way out.
This week, he goes into surgery to try to fix his broken legs. Hearts Alive Village, the rescue group caring for him, says the medical bills could run as high as $13,000.
This puppy should be learning how fetch works. Instead, he's fighting for his life in a critical care unit.
I'm not going to pretend this is rare. It's not.
Nevada has seen case after case of animals starved, beaten, and left to die because someone decided a living creature was disposable.
And in far too many cases, if we ever catch the person responsible, the punishment doesn't come close to fitting the crime.
That has to change.
There should be felony charges for serious animal abuse cases like this one. Not a fine or a slap on the wrist; a felony.
Torturing an animal is not a minor offense, so it shouldn't be treated as one.
I've pushed for real penalties on illegal breeding operations, the kind that treat dogs like inventory instead of living things.
I've pushed for jail time for anyone running or profiting from dogfighting.
I've pushed for surprise inspections so cruelty doesn't get to hide behind closed doors.
And I've pushed for permanent bans on ownership for repeat offenders, because someone who does this once will do it again.
Treasure is only a puppy. He's been in the world for just three months.
His first three months were spent being tortured. He's known nothing but pain.
Whoever did this to him needs to face real consequences, and Nevada's laws need to be strong enough to make sure they do.
If you want to help Treasure right now, Hearts Alive Village is taking donations toward his medical care.
And if you know anything about who left him by that dumpster, call Henderson Animal Protective Services at (702) 267-4970. If you saw something, or maybe you know someone who knows someone with a puppy like Treasure, don't stay quiet.
I'll keep fighting until Nevada makes cruelty like this cost something.
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