Deputies find German shepherd, locked in outdoor kennel, alone for a month after death of owner

On Saturday, deputies in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, made a heartbreaking discovery outside the home of a man who had died from natural causes a month ago. As reported by News 9, a German shepherd was locked in an outdoor kennel for a month…surviving on rainwater and a small amount of food that was in the kennel structure.

On Saturday, deputies with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s were called out to the home in Luther to perform a welfare check. They discovered a 64-year-old man deceased inside, and the dog, dubbed Gunner, in a large outdoor kennel. In a release, the authorities said:

Deputies were called to a home near Luther where we found the remains of a man in his home. We believe the 64 year old decedent had been dead for as long as a month. We also found Gunner, who was in a large pen in the backyard. Somehow, Gunner managed to survive for weeks by drinking rainwater and apparently getting into a small amount of food that was left behind.

Explaining that Gunner’s muscles have wasted away, leaving him so weak that he could barely stand, and noting that his body was covered in “thousands” of ticks and fleas. The statement said:

The vet said Gunner had just hours to live when we found him.

Gunner has been turned over to the Bella SPCA Rescue Center for care. The animal welfare agency stated:

Once he is fully healed, Gunner will be going home with family members of the man who passed and if that changes, we will notify the public.

Find the Bella SPCA Facebook page here.

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