I understand that the conditions here in Scioto County are of poor stature, in that being said does not leave the excuse of the mistreatment of people nor animals. If you are unable to feed and properly care for your children or your pets then both should be removed from your care, either until situations change and/or permanently for their welfare. I am the owner of two dogs and one has lupus, so I unfortunately know what it is to have expensive vet bills, but as a "pet parent" you do what you have to for the health of your baby. I also, am the mother of two boys, so if you are going to "own" pets while raising children you have to allow for pet care in your budget, if unable then don't own them they are expensive to own correctly, AS ARE CHILDREN!!!!! Humans are self sufficient and domesticated animals are reliant on their owners, self explanatory, simple easy process, if you can't do this then you relinquish care to someone fit to do so. This pet needs medical care and a special diet. (If the dog is not eating has it been offered Science Diets A/D? ?t is for dogs that are sick and won't eat, you can only get it at a vets office.) I'm just saying I understand people worry about children and the lack of care they get also, but this IS a story written ABOUT A DOG and THE WELFARE IT'S been given! This story is reaching out to the animal lovers and the people who do animal control and rescue! So...with all this being said before running around putting down people who do wonderful and heart breaking work, not to mention donation lots of their own money, let's take a minute to realize it takes all kinds to make this world go round. God put us all here to make a difference, if your calling is to "help needy children" then do so! I applaud you if you do! But in the mean time I spend my time doing what I love which is helping four legged furry flea infested babies! God Bless!!

Wow I cannot believe all of the comments....about a dog? what about all the neglected, starving, abused kids right here in Scioto county? I never see this many comments about kids...pretty sad.

PLEASE SOMEONE FROM THIS PAPER CONTACT ME, we have people willing to pledge money if this woman will "sell" him to us. Like everyone, us animal advocates are wanting to help this dog. From people who had first hand experience with seeing this dog, WE KNOW he is not safe where he is. Since this woman has gone into hiding ( and I see why since her phone # was posted and people let their outrage get the best of them and called the owner) WE JUST WANT TO HELP THIS DOG to get into a home where he is loved and nurtured NOT left and forgotten BEGGING for any type of affection, with no fur to keep him warm. Even a dog with fur shouldnt be out in cold climates with nothing to protect them. Thanks for your time AND PLEASE contact me so we can see if we can do something for this baby boy.

The owner is accusing the person that rescued the dog of taking it to the vet to have it euthanized. I would like to see the vet, Dr. Wilcox come forward and clear this vicious lie up. The person who rescued the dog took it to the vet to be treated and posted the picture on her facebook wall to try and find the dog a home. I know because I reposted it on my wall.

While Officer Payton was busy running around trying to find and make sure a dog, that was obviously neglected and sick, was returned to an abusive owner (An owner that was going to tie the sick dog up outside again) hundreds of other people were likely calling needing assistance with animal issues that have yet to have their calls returned. Someone needs to teach Officer Payton a lesson in priorities. I cannot believe she expended that much effort trying to insure that this dog lives the rest of its life (which likely won't be long) suffering. Officer Payton also needs to be tested to see if her personality actually meets the requirements necessary to work with animals.Secondly, I challenge anyone to look at the picture included with this article, and say you think Payton made a good call, expending that effort to return this dog to this kind of life????

It sounds like someone needs to get a life! We are talking about a dog here. The animal control officer looked into it and made a call. Now the Monday morning quarterbacking from all the armchair experts takes over. Folks, many of the families in Scioto county live in the deplorable conditions that long-term abject poverty brings to a community. It would shock people from other parts of the US to see the squalor that our people live in around here. Where is the outrage from the E-crowd about that? How about humans first!

"According to Smith, however, the dog was taken from the home overnight by someone other than the family and the dog was reported stolen by its owner in the morning." So this dog was left outside over night???

If she IS attempting to "nurse it back to health" she better have proof of vet care, and not be going to the pharmacy and getting over the counter meds to give him. What did the vet say from where AC Payton took the dog from? They took blood, what meds were in his system? If any. What did they say it had? It was three things?

Stupid people should NOT BE ALLOWED to have animals, we can't stop them from breeding, but our laws need changed on fostering, or adopting, any animals. Lets CHAIN this sick dog out sid too HUH????????????

If the dog is sick, why was it chained out in the yard in the cold Ohio winter? Why is that little dog chained in the house? If the dog is sick why did Ms. Payton remove it from the vet caring for the dog as a result of it being rescued? A dog doesn't lose so much weight that it is emaciated like this one unless it has been without food for a long time - or been 'sick' for a long time. Why doesn't the owner let the dog get the care that it obviously needs. Look at it's face, people. And yes, the world IS watching to see what Portsmouth officials do with this dog.

She said “I have a dog who is sick, the meds I had him on weren’t workin so I switched them, they still didnt work, so he lost weight,” WTH SHE SWITHCHED THEM!!!! are they over the counter meds, or did she take this dog to the vet?? She is going to kill this dog, she needs to sign it over for vet care, worms, mange, and who knows what else. Payton needs to check her job discription, if that dog dies she should be held accountable, taking it from the vet, returning it to the neglect that is killing him. That is not only wrong...iT IS not RIGHT.

And an idiot commenting on a photo is worth ten.

"" Things just aren't making sense with this story. You've got a lot of people upset here in NC......Somebody needs to get this animal the help it needs and soon!!!!!!!! A picture is worth a thousand words!

We don't know the real story here, i've seen multiple comments from all sides, what I have been hearing lately is that the owner rescued the dog from someone and is trying to nurse him back to health...Whats really sad...this is just one story of hundreds that occur every year in scioto county that go unreported...the animals that die on the side of the road with out a home, the ones who are stolen and used for illegal dog fighting, the illegal dog fighting alone! The abuse, the attacks, there's alot more stories out there that are extremely saddening, but instead of investigating or looking at those, we find one picture and make our own opinions of what ever we feel like, instead of waiting until the investigation is over, allowing the owner time to breathe and giving their side of the story. Lets just see how things play out in the next few weeks, from the pictures i'm seeing on facebook, it looks like this is just an accident and a picture used for wrong purposes.

I think Mr Smith and Ms Payton need to take another look at this poor animal-- it is obviously sick and suffering. Why on earth would someone remove this dog from the vet and return it to someone who let it get in this shape? Pay attention, Portsmouth...there are many people watching your actions right now.

Sorry Ms. Carrie. A dog that is sick and under a vet's care does not become that emaciated. A dog that is loved by her family is not found in that condition, alone, outdoors, and on a chain. It takes a long time for a dog to get that skinny. You may have fooled yourself but you are not fooling anyone else.

Wendy Payton needs to be fired. She clearly cannot do the job. I am starting a facebook chain calling for her dismissal or resignation. She should be charged with animal cruelty for this.

the dog is sick? that is why you left it CHAINED UP OUTSIDE IN THE FREEZING COLD? then chained it up in your house? You clearly don't want the dog, why don't you turn it over to a rescue who can help it?

Thank you Portsmouth Daily Time!! Maybe this dog will be saved before it's too late, and the "owner" prosecuted

I have been following this story, and you need to report all facts. I'm sure the person you say "stole" the dog would love to share that side of the story with you.

It is quite apparent to me that this poor furbaby is not SICK, but in fact is being STARVED to DEATH. I ask why the CHAIN? Please do the right thing and put pressure on this so called human being and SAVE this furbaby before it is too late. He/She looks so SAD as you can see it on their little face......:( Please, please I beg you if you have a HEART be the VOICE to save this defenseless furry soul and rescue or let someone rescue this little furry soul. I know that I would be very grateful and so would this furbaby. I will continue to pray and ask God to help guide the angels and keep him/her safe from any harm.