Photo: MSPCA-Angell
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — It's being called the worst case of intentional starvation MSPCA staff have ever seen. The organization said the three year old Pitt Bull-mix is lucky to be alive after being rescued from a Roxbury home earlier this summer.
When officials discovered "Jobee," he weighed just over 24 pounds, which is about half the typical body-weight of a pooch his age.
“This is the worst case of starvation I’ve ever seen in a dog and I’m stunned that he survived,” said Dr. Kiko Bracker of Angell’s Emergency & Critical Care Service. “He had no food in his stomach or digestive tract, which had all but shut down. And we needed to be very, very careful in nursing him back to health.”
Jobee had been living with his owner, Lakeida Burris, who has a history of animal neglect. In May of 2022, Burris was first charged with animal cruelty after another dog in her care had to be put down due to severe neglect.
In July, Boston Police visited Burris at her home on an unrelated call and discovered Jobee, and another dog, Remy. After officers left, they alleged Burris tried to abandon Jobee in a dumpster. Both dogs were then put in the care of the MSPCA.
“In my nearly three decades in animal welfare I’ve never seen a dog so starved who was still alive. In fact, we’ve seen deceased dogs who had more body fat than Jobee. He was days—if not hours—away from death, so it’s nothing short of a miracle that he is still with us,” said MSPCA-Angell Director of Adoption Centers and Programs Mike Keiley. "We’ve seen in previous cases that dogs this neglected essentially give up and do not recover—but it was clear from the first minute in our care that Jobee wanted to live. He inspired us all and captured every heart along the way.”
Thanks to the hard working staff of veterinarians at the MSPCA-Angell, Jobee is on the long road to recovery and will be ready for his forever home, in no time.
Burris was arrested yesterday, August 23rd, and was arraigned in Roxbury District Court on animal cruelty charges.