Owner charged, puppy on the mend after being left in heat without food for days

PATERSON — The owner of a dog found emaciated at its Paterson home has been charged with animal cruelty.

The Bergen Record reported Laquana Moore was charged with two counts of animal cruelty after her 5-month-old pit mix was found by animal control officers on Sunday and removed from the home.

Pax, whose name means "peace," will continue his recovery at the Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital as one of its technicians will foster Pax, according to a post on the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge Facebook page.

"Pax will get the baths, frequent small feedings, and medical attention and love that he needs right now ... and all while being just a few minutes from the shelter," the refuge wrote.

Paterson Animal Shelter officers rescued the dog from a home on 6th Street after receiving an anonymous, tip according to the Record.

“The dog was all skin and bones,” John DeCando, Paterson’s animal control officer told the newspaper.

On a GoFundMe page created to help with Pax's recovery, RBARI wrote that Pax had been alone for several days and collapsed from wagging his tail and greeting people.

"The officer took him off his chain and brought him into the home, where he staggered over to the toilet and drank all the water out of it before she could stop him," the refuge wrote. "Infected skin flaked from his body as he continued to wag his tail falling over because he was so dehydrated and starved. He had an extremely strong odor from his skin infection and the feces and urine he was living in. The owners admitted that he hadn’t eaten in days."

The dog collapsed from excitement when someone finally came to rescue him, the refuge wrote.

Pax will eventually be up for adoption once his health improves.