'Near-Frozen' Dog Rescued in Chester County

CCSPCA Humane Society Police Officer Kelsey Beam and Christopher Robin (Photo courtesy of the Chester County SPCA)

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Authorities rescued a “near-frozen” dog from a Chester County home this weekend, the Chester County SPCA said.

The dog, a male Chihuahua mix who authorities estimate is 3 years old, had been left outside a Valley Township home in a urine-soaked wire cage with frozen water and no food, the CCSPCA said.

When CCSPCA Humane Society Police Officer Kelsey Beam arrived at the home on Saturday, Jan. 10, she found the dog motionless and emaciated and said he appeared to be deceased.

“Officer Beam was surprised that this poor dog still had a pulse,” said Frank Galbraith, Animal Protective Services Manager of the Chester County SPCA. “He appeared to be frozen to death.”

When the dog was brought to West Chester Animal Emergency Center, his “temperature was so low that it did not register on thermometers,” the CCSPCA said.

The dog, named Christopher Robin by CCSPCA staff, was diagnosed with serious hypoglycemia and hypothermia. “It was only after receiving heat support, intravenous fluids and glucose did his temperature finally register at 90.4° F, nearly 10 degrees lower than the temperature of a normal dog,” the CCSPCA said.

“Had we arrived 10 minutes later, Christopher’s story could have had a very different ending. I’m just happy we got there in time to save his life,” Officer Beam said.

Christopher Robin remains in the care of the veterinary staff at the Chester County SPCA. You can make a donation to help with the care of Christopher Robin and other animals here.

The investigation by the Chester County SPCA’s Animal Protective Services Department is ongoing, and animal cruelty charges are likely, the CCSPCA said.