Sedro Woolley Resident Arrested for Animal Cruelty

Sedro Woolley, Washington- Animal Control Officers from the Sedro Woolley Police Department responded to reports of a neglected/abused dog on June 4th, 2016.

According to a probable cause affidavit of arrest obtained by SkagitBreaking.com through a public disclosure request, we’ve learned that a citizen  reported to Sedro Woolley animal control that they had seen a severely emaciated dog laying in overgrown grass in the yard of a residence and the yard “smelled like death.”

Officers later learned the owner of the dog was Riki Hanzawa and attempted to contact Hanzawa on several occasions and received no response.

On June 11th, 2016, Officers made phone contact with Hanzawa and he admitted to ownership of the dog and he told Officers the dog had been sick for a long time. He told Officers the dog needed to be “put down.”   He also told Officers he was staying with his girlfriend out of the area but came to the residence twice a day to feed the animal.   Hanzawa had two other Males that lived at the residence as tenants who confirmed that only Hanzawa cared for the animal.

On June 13th, 2016 Officers went to the residence again and met with Hanzawa.   He told Officers that the dog was about 16 years old and  had been sick for about two years and could not walk or eat very well.  He told Officers that he had not taken the dog to a veterinarian because he could not afford it.

Hanzawa opened a garage door to the residence on the property and Officers observed a large breed, brindle colored dog laying on a dirty dog bed.  There was a clean white bowl in the garage heaping full of very large size dry dog food kibble. There was no water found in the garage for the dog.

Officers asked Hanzawa if he had requested assistance for the dog from any out reach group and he told Officers that he had not.

Officers approached the dog and found the entire body emaciated with no underlying muscle or fat around the muzzle or head. The dog’s rear left leg was severely deformed with what appeared to be a large bony mass about the size of a football. The dog was visibly having a hard time standing. Officers noted that in 20 plus years of experience as an animal control officer,  they had never seen a dog so emaciated, still alive.

Officers recognized the dog was in a state of starvation and told Hanzawa that he needed to take the dog to a veterinarian immediately.  Hanzawa said he could not afford to do so and Hanzawa surrendered the dog to Sedro Woolley Officers who transported the dog to North Cascade Veterinary Hospital for evaluation and care.

The dog finished several small bowls of water and dry kibble and showed signs of having a strong appetite and thirst while being examined. The Veterinarian noted the dogs general appearance was emaciated, able to stand but not able to stay on it’s feet for more then a few minutes. The dogs musculoskeletal was emaciated, with all abdominal and fat gone. The entire length of all ribs and every dorsal spinal process was sharply outlined under the skin and was easily seen at a distance. The dog weighed 48.6 pounds after eating three bowls of food and three bowls of water weighing 3.75 pounds. A young  adult dog of this breed should weigh between 85-90 pounds and an older, well cared for dog should weight 75-80 pounds, so the dog was 30-35 pounds under weight.

The vet report noted several injuries, including a severe pelvic injury, an old injury to the left hind leg, a femoral neck injury to the left side. The left side of the pelvis was elevated 3-4″ above the right side as if the pelvic had been previously broken and displaced and healed in that position.

The veterinarian noted that the dog suffered severe neglect resulting in emaciation. The pet’s lack of intestinal contents, dehydration, and willingness to eat and drink to the point of distention are not compatible with an animal that is emaciated due to illness or age as Hanzawa had told Officers.

The vet noted that the dog had been suffering  substantial and unjustifiable physical pain that extended for a period to cause considerable suffering for a very long time.   Due to the body condition, disability and advanced age of the dog, the dog was humanly euthanized as a result of his condition.

If you know or suspect someone is neglecting or abusing  an animal please contact your local Animal Control Officer.

Contact the Humane Society of Skagit County or your local police department for information on resources available to help you  if you own an animal that you can no longer care for.  “Pain is Inhumane”

Riki Nekomoto Hanzawa was recently booked into the Skagit County Jail on Suspicion of 1st degree Animal Cruelty.  He has since been released pending his next court appearance.