A Florida woman is behind bars after authorities say she neglected her paralyzed dog for years, leaving the animal to suffer in silence. Melody Black, 58, of Lake Worth, was arrested earlier this week and charged with felony aggravated animal cruelty.
The heartbreaking case centers around Wilhelmina, a female dog who had lost use of her back legs but remained alert and responsive. Palm Beach County Animal Care investigators say the dog had been crawling around her home without a wheelchair or mobility aid. Worse, she was found covered in urine scalds, bedsores, and with serious infections. Those were clear signs that no medical help had been provided in a long time.
Neighbors had raised concerns for years, but it wasn’t until a welfare check on April 9 that officers got a full look at the grim conditions inside Black’s home.
Conditions Inside the Home “Unfit for Life”
According to the report, Wilhelmina was found lying on a thin towel surrounded by feces, old food, and dirty water bowls. She appeared malnourished and dehydrated, with matted fur and sores on her sides and hips—classic signs of being left in one position for far too long…