In February, two animal cruelty cases brought three dogs into the care of the Horry County Animal Care Center. All three dogs were forced to stay in Horry County's custody until the cases against their owners were resolved and the dogs were nursed back to health.
The animal care center says all three dogs are now ready for adoption.
Two dogs, Sasha and Butch, were seized from the home of Cleveland Fladger Jr. who was charged with Animal Cruelty when Horry County Police found the dogs malnourished and neglected.
Fladger's case was resolved in Conway, and he was forced to pay $2000 in restitution for care of the dogs. He is still paying and has signed custody of Butch and Sasha over to Horry County Animal Care Center.
The care center said when Sasha, a lab-bull mix, came to the center she weighed 26 pounds when a healthy dog her size should weigh 50 pounds. Sasha now weighs over 50 pounds and is fully recovered.
Butch, the bull mix, came to the center underweight and timid. He also weighs over 50 pounds and is more reserved than most dogs but still very friendly.
The care center said they've had to put both dogs on a diet because they've gained too much weight.
"Sasha and Butch have gone through heart worm treatments," says Horry County Animal Care Center's Kelly Bonome. "They both have a lot of energy and are very sweet dogs."
Another dog, Buddy, was seized from the Len Crenshaw of Horry County who was arrested for felony mistreatment of animals.
Buddy arrived at the care center with severe neck wounds from a chain wrapped around him too tightly. The dog received numerous ointments and pain killers to cure those wounds.
Crenshaw served 90 days in jail, and Buddy was taken from his custody. The care center says Buddy has healed from his neck injuries completely, and the scarring from his wounds are not visible.
"We're teaching Buddy how to walk with a harness instead of leash," says Bonome, "because we feel it'd be a little cruel to put a collar on him ever again."
Bonome says when people come to the shelter these three dogs often get lost in the crowd.
"When they are in those kennels, people just walk right passed them." She says every dog has a story in the center, but Sasha, Butch and Buddy are a little different.
"These dogs have been through a lot, and they're stories are really unique."
