Oregon Man Accused of Starving His Dog to Death After Pet Loses Nearly 100 Pounds

Husan Muldrew (38) of Portland will appear in court on Tuesday (4 February) after his dog, Knox, was said to have died of ‘chronic starvation.’ The animal ‘suffered unnecessarily for weeks to months.’

The Dog Lost Nearly 100 Pounds Before He Died

According to a necropsy report, Knox died because of ‘his advanced decompensated state as a direct result of chronic starvation.’ The animal is said to have lost nearly 100 pounds before his death.

Muldrew is accused of first-degree animal neglect after an investigation that began last October when Muldrew visited the DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital.

The Animal was Covered in Ulcers and Feces

According to court records, the veterinarian who examined Knox found that he weighed 25 pounds and was covered in ulcers and feces. His blood pressure was so slow that the vet could not take a reading.

The animal was also suffering from a slow heartbeat and hypothermia. The dog was euthanized for humane reasons.

When questioned, Muldrew told the veterinarian that Knox had originally weighed 120 pounds.

A special agent from the Oregon Humane Society, who was legally authorized to investigate animal welfare for the state, examined the dog’s body after obtaining a search warrant. There was no food in the animal’s intestines or stomach.

When the agent visited Muldrew at his home, he was told that Knox was ‘chunky-sized’ when he first arrived at the property. Muldrew said he had owned Knox for three to four months during which time the dog ate and drank normally.

However, the day Muldrew took Knox to the emergency hospital, the animal did not have the strength to stand. Muldrew told the agent that he had not taken Knox to a veterinarian sooner because he did not have enough money.

The agent reviewed tissue samples taken from Knox in November which supported the finding that the dog had starved to death. There were no abnormalities suggesting cancer, infections, or inflammation, and the dog’s bone marrow fat content was well below that of average animals.