Dog rescued from cruelty dies after New Kent spends thousands to save him

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NEW KENT COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A dog that New Kent County authorities found emaciated and covered in fly bites in the summer of 2024 sadly died months later, just after Christmas -- devastating the Animal Protection officials that spent thousands of dollars trying to give him a second chance at life.

"Big G," a pit bull mix that the New Kent Sheriff's Office's Animal Protection Unit believed to be about 4 years old, was regularly featured on the office's Facebook page following his rescue in June 2024.

He was seized as part of a cruelty case, when he was found tethered outside, emaciated and covered in fly bites -- some of which resulted in Big G needing an ear surgically removed.

"[We] are hoping to fulfill the promise of a better life [for Big G,]" authorities said in a Sept. 2024 Facebook post the dog was included in, among other adoptable animals.

"Big G," a pit bull mix seized during a New Kent County animal cruelty case. Photo taken at the time of his rescue. (Photo: New Kent Sheriff's Office's Animal Protection Unit)

"Big G," a pit bull mix seized during a New Kent County animal cruelty case. Photo taken at the time of his rescue. (Photo: New Kent Sheriff's Office's Animal Protection Unit)

"Big G," a pit bull mix seized during a New Kent County animal cruelty case. Photo taken at the time of his rescue. (Photo: New Kent Sheriff's Office's Animal Protection Unit)

In Oct. 2024, authorities made a post asking for an emergency foster for Big G, who was not doing well after all this time spent in the shelter.

"He wants to be someone’s spoiled rotten baby," authorities said. "Big G loves attention from people but the longer he sits in our kennels, the more reactivity towards people he gains. He watches humans walk past his kennel every single day and he never gets to leave with them so he’s getting frustrated."

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The office added that concerns were mounting regarding what impact this turmoil could have on Big G's long-term health.

"We are worried if he stays in our kennels any longer, he will reach a point mentally that will damage him," authorities said. "He is so desperate to be loved that it’s literally killing him not finding a family. Our special little guy really needs to escape our shelter asap!!"

According to authorities, as of Oct. 2024, the shelter had already spent thousands on Big G's medical care, "working hard on getting him back to be his happiest and healthiest self."

"Big G," a pit bull mix seized during a New Kent County animal cruelty case. (Photo: New Kent Sheriff's Office's Animal Protection Unit)

"Big G," a pit bull mix seized during a New Kent County animal cruelty case. (Photo: New Kent Sheriff's Office's Animal Protection Unit)

The day after Christmas, on Dec. 26, 2024, the office made another post about Big G, sharing that his condition had taken a sharp turn for the worse and asking the community for help.

"We fought hard in court to bring him justice and give him a better life," authorities said. "We are doing all we can to keep that promise."

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According to the office, Big G had right-sided heart failure caused by "a massive and aggressive amount of heartworms."

"They are ruthless and slowly killing him," authorities said. "We tried treating him through the slow kill method but it’s not enough to save him."

"Big G," a pit bull mix seized during a New Kent County animal cruelty case. (Photo: New Kent Sheriff's Office's Animal Protection Unit)

"Big G," a pit bull mix seized during a New Kent County animal cruelty case. (Photo: New Kent Sheriff's Office's Animal Protection Unit)

"Big G," a pit bull mix seized during a New Kent County animal cruelty case. (Photo: New Kent Sheriff's Office's Animal Protection Unit)

The office said Big G's belly was distended due to fluid filling his abdomen, making it hard to touch. He was under the care of Coastal Animal Referral Emergency Vet Clinic, the staff of which was working hard to help Big G "keep being his goofy, loving self" at the time of that Dec. 26 post.

"We are trying so hard to save him again and again and get him a loving home," authorities said. "We can’t give up on him. He deserves so much better than all the struggles he is enduring."

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However, the office said it was trying to find a way to pay off $3,700 in charges related to Big G's care, which it stressed needed to be paid quickly.

"We need to get his bill paid off," authorities said. "We can only pay medical bills from donations. If we can’t raise the money to get Big G the treatment he needs, his outcome doesn’t look good."

Bill for medical care for "Big G," a pit bull mix seized during a New Kent County animal cruelty case. (Photo: New Kent Sheriff's Office's Animal Protection Unit)

The office attached a photo of that bill -- shown above -- with the total cost for services listed on said bill coming out to over $3,000 on the low end and $3,700 on the high end. This included hundreds of dollars in tests, procedures and medications, among other charges.

Unfortunately, two days later, the office made a final post about Big G, announcing that he had died.

"It is with great sadness that we make this post," authorities said on Facebook on Dec 28, 2024. "Unfortunately we were not able to save 'Big G.' Due to the advanced stage of his heartworms and his grave prognosis, a very difficult decision had to be made so he did not suffer."

The office thanked everyone who had contributed to Big G's care, saying that any unspent dollars would now go towards its Animal Welfare Fund.

"Big G," a pit bull mix seized during a New Kent County animal cruelty case. (Photo: New Kent Sheriff's Office's Animal Protection Unit)

"Big G," a pit bull mix seized during a New Kent County animal cruelty case. (Photo: New Kent Sheriff's Office's Animal Protection Unit)

Staff who knew Big G are grateful they walked this journey with him, according to the office, as they got to "[watch] him come out of his shell to become the amazing dog he was."

"We understand this post might be hard to read but we didn’t want Big G’s story to be lost," authorities said. "We wanted to be transparent and open about the realities of what shelter staff and animal protection workers deal with every day."

Despite how painful the news was to deliver, authorities chose to take a moment to emphasize the importance of medicating against the very parasites that caused Big G's death.

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"But most importantly, we wanted to get the word out about making sure you have your dog/cat on 'HEARTWORM PREVENTION.' Heartworm prevention is an absolute necessity if you own a dog or cat in Virginia. Please don’t let your animal become a victim to such an easily preventable illness."

If you have questions about how to protect your pet from heartworms, the office recommends you speak to your veterinarian.

Authorities did not provide any additional details on the nature of the cruelty case Big G was involved in. Additionally, the office did not specify if his heartworms were a result of that cruelty.