Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals announces passing of dog found in disturbing condition as search for owner continues

A dog found in disturbing condition in Massachusetts has died.

According to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Dolly was brought to their emergency room at Angell after being found in Lexington in critical condition.

Dolly was severely underweight and unable to stand on her own and received around-the-clock care from the ICU nursing staff.

During her time with the MSPCA, Dolly was diagnosed with epilepsy, megaesophagus, and a suspected autoimmune condition that they believed to be contributing to her muscle weakness and her increased risk of regurgitation, all on top of the emaciation. Despite the combined efforts of multiple specialty teams, Dolly’s body had endured more than she could overcome.

Dolly experienced a medical emergency and while they were able to stabilize her, she became oxygen-dependent. With the scope of her conditions and concerns about her long-term prognosis and quality of life, they made the hard decision that the most compassionate choice was to let her go peacefully. She crossed the rainbow bridge surrounded by people who cared deeply for her and showered her with love.

MSPCA released the following statement:

“Though Dolly was only with us for a short time, she touched every member of her care team and so many of you. Because of your support, we were able to provide Dolly with every possible resource, and those same donations will continue to help the next animal in need. Some of you even sent physical gifts and thank-you cards to our staff, and this meant more to us than we could ever express.

“By sharing Dolly’s journey, we were able to show in real time the reality of what our teams face behind the scenes, both physically and emotionally. We strive to be transparent about the work we do even when a positive outcome cannot be guaranteed. We know many of you are grieving alongside us.

“We also want to take a moment to recognize the dedication, expertise, and compassion of everyone involved in Dolly’s care. In cases like this, we are reminded that despite all available resources, technology, skill, and desire to help, sometimes we meet animals at a point where their bodies are simply unable to recover.

“We will carry Dolly with us in our hearts, in our work, and in our continued commitment to helping animals who cannot speak for themselves. We know you will too.”

The cost of Dolly’s care was in the thousands and was only possible because of the generosity of donors.

Anyone with information about Dolly’s owner is urged to contact MSPCA-Angell Law Enforcement by phone at (617) 522-6008, (800) 628-5808, or submit a tip online at mspca.org/tip