Gloversville fundraiser for bad-off beagle

The Regional Animal Shelter in Gloversville is turning to the public to help give Pongo the beagle 'a second chance' after she was found on the streets last month, malnourished and with a large untreated tumor. (Photo: Regional Animal Shelter)

The Regional Animal Shelter in Gloversville is turning to the public to help give Pongo the beagle “a second chance” after she was found on the streets last month, malnourished and with a large untreated tumor.

With a recently launched online fundraiser, the shelter is trying to raise $3,500 by July 31 for surgery to remove the growth from Pongo’s hindquarters.

Help raise funds for Pongo’s medical care by donating here.

Police found the 10-year-old dog around midnight June 15 in the area of Kingsboro and Prospect Avenue with a “gaping wound and a giant growth on her right hindquarters,” according to the shelter. As she had no tags at the time, she was taken to the Regional Animal Shelter for evaluation, where a vet determined that the tumor had partially imploded and had likely gone untreated for some time.

Police later charged 38-year-old Norbert Saxton, of Gloversville with cruelty to animals. Pongo was temporarily in his care, according to police, because owner Christina France, 34, of Herkimer, could not keep dogs over 40 pounds at her residence.

According to an update from the shelter, the softball-size growth is benign, but growing quickly and needs to be removed. The surgery could not be done right away, however, because the dog was too weak to survive it.

“She was severely anemic,” reads the update from the shelter. “Our primary concern turned to getting Pongo healthier so that we could give her the best chances at surviving her surgery.”

A month later, she is now healthy enough for surgery, which is expected to cost $3,500, including postoperative care and medications.

The shelter notes that “Pongo will get the care she deserves” whether or not the online fundraiser meets its goal. Any money raised over $3,500 will go toward Annie’s Fund, which helps provide emergency medical care to animals at the shelter.