Two Starving Great Danes Rescued From Mayes County Home

A picture helped put a rescue mission in motion that saved two starving Great Danes from a home in Pryor.

The Mayes County Sheriff's Office is asking the District Attorney to charge the owners with animal neglect.

Someone had taken a picture just outside Pryor city limits of a severely malnourished dog. It was posted to Facebook and after that, the Mayes County Sheriff's Office was flooded with phone calls.

Their sad, soulful eyes just speak to you, and their weak bodies - skin and bones - tell a story full of abuse and neglect.

“These guys, just based on their history, have never had a good life,” said animal activist Kathy LaValley.

The dogs are safe now, in the temporary care of LaValley, a longtime Mayes County animal activist in the process of starting her own rescue, Saving Whiskers and Tails.

She said the mistreatment of the two Great Danes is one of the worst cases she's seen.

“You become physically ill when you see what's in your neighborhood,” she said.

The dogs, now named Sunshine and Biggin, were taken from a house just outside Pryor city limits Tuesday night.

LaValley said the owners told her they rescued the dogs in the spring after the previous owner shot the male dog and beat the female with a leash.

“They've gone probably from bad to worse,” LaValley said.

She said the owners claimed they fell on hard times and couldn't afford to feed the two Great Danes.

“It's heartbreaking when they have to give their animals up, but that's the right thing to do,” said LaValley.

Someone sent LaValley a picture of one of the dogs, which she shared on her Facebook page.

After that, the Mayes County Sheriff's Office was inundated with phone calls.

“Ten to 15 calls and they were all back-to-back,” Sergeant Billy Blackwell said.

Blackwell said a Mayes County deputy paid a visit to the house last week, but before seizing the dogs, Blackwell said the owners were given a few days to prove the dogs were getting medical attention, but couldn't.

“You are responsible to provide for that animal, food, shelter, water, medical attention if it's needed and in this case it was not provided,” Blackwell said.

The owners weren't home when News On 6 stopped by, we counted at least six other dogs living there.

Blackwell said because the other animals appeared healthy they weren't seized.

“It seemed to me these two were being singled out for neglect and no explanation for that,” LaValley said.

It won't happen again. The dogs got food, water, warmth and good news from a vet that - with the right nutrition, hydration and exercise - they're going to be just fine.

“From now on they get the life they deserve,” said LaValley, who is paying for the animals expenses out of pocket until she get her 501c3 certification.

They only thing they need now, is a foster family to help Sunshine and Biggin begin their new life story.

“Whatever time they have left is going to be surrounded with love and dedication, and they're gonna be part of somebody's family. And that'll happen, it always does,” LaValley said. “When you see the bad, you always know there's the good and that's why you keep coming back and doing it.”

A fundraising site has been set up to help with caring for the Sunshine and Biggin.