Charges likely in starving-dog case

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - City Animal Welfare plans on pressing animal-cruelty charges against three roommates they say let a dog go hungry.

They believe Jem is an Australian cattle dog mix that was kept on a balcony of a northwest Albuquerque apartment while the three men inside ignored her.

The 1-year-old dog had no food or water and was living in her own feces.

"It's the utter lack of feeling to treat any living being that way," said Barbara bruin of the city's animal welfare department.  "It's just unbelievable."
    
She's only 23 pounds when she should be around 40.

"I know I've never seen it walked in the neighborhood before," said neighbor Frank Riccardi.  "I only saw it up on the patio, and I would throw him snacks sometimes."

Someone noticed the dog and called Animal Welfare.

Vets say she came to them just in the nick of time and should recover.