Dog Tragically Dies After Owner, Suffering From Alzheimer’s, Forgets to Feed Him

This story is not for the faint of heart.

The dog above, a Chihuahua named Mojo, was neglected by his elderly owner, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. When he was found at his Columbus, Georgia home, locked in a room, authorities came to the conclusion that he had unintentionally been starved by his sick owner.

According to Mojo’s Mission, a Facebook page that was set up in the dog’s memory, Mojo starved for many months before finally succumbing. He was rescued and taken to an emergency animal hospital, but he was in such bad shape that he couldn’t be saved.

There are many obvious questions in the wake of this devastating tragedy. How did this treatment — or lack thereof — continue for so long? Why wasn’t the owner’s family assisting her and, by extension, the dog? And how do we prevent instances like this from happening again?

The Facebook page also was created to spread awareness about the poor conditions in which innocent animals are sometimes forced to live.

“I challenge EVERYONE to reach out,” a statement on the Facebook page reads. “Reach out to your local vet’s offices. Reach out to your local Senior Centers. Reach out to your local Area Agency on Aging. Reach out to your local churches. Make contact with ONE person that is aged, a shut-in, disabled, … offer them and their pet whatever you can. Even if it’s just a check-in phone call every few days. Do they need a ride to take their pet to the vet’s office? Do they need meds picked up from the vet’s office? Can they afford the next bag of dog/cat food? I encourage you to share Mojo’s Mission, … you may just save a life, or two!”

Make sure to SHARE this story to keep Mojo’s spirit alive.