PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WYMT) – Nearly two weeks ago, workers at the Floyd County Animal Shelter noticed someone dumped a pile of spoiled meat on a trail behind the shelter. While the rotten meat was hard to stomach, workers say the next discovery is something they will never forget.
After reporting the dump site to the county, shelter managers Elexis Craft and Allison Cobern went back to the trail to see if it had been cleaned up. They said the trail is often used by volunteers and staff to walk the shelter dogs and give them some joy during the day, so they wanted to make sure there was nothing rotten remaining that the dogs would potentially eat.
The duo noticed the meat was still there, but something had been eating it. So, they continued driving up the hill and were quickly met by a stray pit bull who ran in front of their car.
“You could tell that something was really bothering him. And he just kept barking at us and walking towards us and then running, so me and Lexi said, ‘Well, let’s just look around,’” said Cobern.
After trying to get the dog in the car unsuccessfully, it led them to a nearby ditch and their attention quickly shifted to another dog, which appeared to be tied to a tree with no slack on the rope.
“They tied him into a place where they wanted us to never find it,” said Craft. “As soon as I seen it, I could just not stop saying like ‘Oh my God. Oh my God.’ Like, it did not feel real to me to see him hanging there.”
They tried to help, only to realize the dog was dead. Cobern said it appeared to have hanged to death and had likely been dead for days, based on the decomposition and maggots present.
“We both stood there for a couple of minutes, just in complete shock,” said Craft. “Seeing him and just the condition he was in, I mean, it was one of the most horrific sights I have ever seen.”
“That dog bashed his face up- or maybe he was already bashed up before they tied him up. Maybe they beat him. We we don’t know,” said Cobern. “There’s claw marks in the tree where he tried his best to just be able to breathe just to live a little bit longer.”
The first dog, which the shelter has named Ludwik, was determined to get help for his friend. But the two say it was heartbreaking, since they knew it was too late.
“The dogs were so bonded. Ludwik refused to leave his friend,” said Cobern. “I had to physically put him on a leash and carry him away as he was nuzzling his dead friend’s body.”
Eventually, they were able to get Ludwik away from the other dog- who has now been named Nakusha- and the employees took him to the shelter.
After contacting law enforcement and filing a report, the workers said they were then tasked with removing Nakusha’s body, because they could not bare the idea of leaving him there. Then, with no leads to help find out who left them there, the shelter took to social media. They said Nakusha was a healthy size and had cropped ears, so it was hard to believe someone in the community wouldn’t recognize him.
Craft and Cobern said the post immediately began gaining attention, with donations pouring in to help with vet bills for Ludwik. When they asked for help digging a grave for Nakusha, however, they were convinced to have him cremated and the cost of the service was immediately covered by an anonymous donor.
Now, he will be placed in a small urn that can be attached to Ludwik’s collar, in order to allow him to stay by his friend’s side as Ludwik prepares to go to his forever home.
Though Ludwik is now adopted and getting the care he needs, the shelter still wants justice for Nakusha.
“We just want to make sure that those animals in the future are taken care of,” said Craft. “And that’s all we’re here for is just to try to battle the abuse for animals in Floyd County. Because it is absolutely horrific.”
They are asking the public for any information that could lead them to the people or person responsible for leaving the dogs on the property. Donors have also been sending money to be used as a reward for the person who leads police to the culprit.
“Even if you’re not sure it would help, it may help. We’ll take any information you have,” said Craft.
Craft said she knows there is an overcrowding issue, but this is never the way.
The shelter has been planning to host a 5K Saturday as a fundraiser. Now, they will keep it on the calendar in honor of Nakusha.
“We’re gonna be doing it in memory of him. You know, try and come and walk: what he couldn’t,” said Craft.
You can follow the shelter here for more updates.
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