11/16/2025
HOW CAN SUCH CRUELTY EXIST IN THIS WORLD? 💔
Today was a very tough day for us at GCAC. Our hearts are broken and we are in disbelief. We wanted to make this post to honor these two wonderful dogs and to put the facts out there firsthand.
We believe that Ringo (male) and Star (female) were abandoned in a crate and left for dead in a pond in Flint. The German Shepherds, estimated to be 1.5-2 years old, must have found a way to escape the crate, but Ringo was still struggling in the pond as he was too weak to pull himself out.
A good Samaritan was driving nearby and Star chased his truck, barking and pleading for help. The good Sam stopped his truck as he felt that something was wrong. Like something out of a movie, Star led him back to the pond to get help for Ringo. Ringo was rescued and brought to our facility yesterday afternoon. Both dogs were in terrible condition - filthy, emaciated, and very weak. Ringo was so weak that he couldn't even stand, and he had a body score of 1/9. Star has a body score of 2/9.
Our hearts are very heavy today as we did have to humanely euthanize Ringo upon further medical investigation. He was suffering greatly and no longer had quality of life. Not only was he starved, but he also had very advanced pneumonia and a blockage. His stomach was severely swollen with fluid and numerous mammalian bones. Large, splintered pieces of ingested bone had caused GI perforation, a suspected necrotic stomach, and sepsis of the abdomen. He also had severe, long-standing damage to his right rear leg and permanent dislocation of the hip joint. A septic joint and osteomyelitis (severe bone infection) were also found in the right rear leg. He was ultimately too far gone and past the point of intervention.
Star will be getting emergency surgery to remove the blockage that she has from ingesting animal bones as well. Her prognosis is much better as she does not have any evidence of GI perforation or sepsis at this time. A rescue will be pulling her once she gets clearance from the veterinary hospital she will be going to.
We're extremely hopeful that Star will make it and find her happy ending, but we will never forget what both of these dogs had to go through. Star will have a difficult time facing life without her companion, but her heart and body will heal with time.
If anybody has information about where these dogs came from or who they belonged to, please contact 911 and our dispatch team at 810-732-1660, extension 2. Your report will remain anonymous.
Thank you so much to all who played a part in rescuing these dogs and getting them to safety. You are heroes.
We will never stop working towards and dreaming of a world where animals are treated with nothing but respect, kindess, and love. Rest in peace, Ringo. ❤️🩹🪽
