Puppy found locked in bathroom with no food

LUTZ — A puppy was rescued Saturday from an apartment bathroom where she and another dog were left for two weeks, Hillsborough County Animal Services investigators said.

They found no food or accessible water in the bathroom for the 5- to 6-week-old boxer, who was barely alive. An adult female poodle with the puppy was dead. Investigators sent it for a necropsy.

Investigators are trying to find the man who leased the apartment at the Preserve at Deer Park in Lutz and a friend of the man's, who contacted a leasing agent. The friend asked for a key to get into the apartment to feed the dogs. The leasing agent called Animal Services after opening the apartment and discovering the dogs.

The puppy, named Neicy in honor of Cpl. Denise Brewer, lead animal abuse investigator for this case, was put on intravenous fluids and has coccidia, a bacteria infection dogs often get when their food is contaminated with feces. She also has an eye condition called cherry eye, said Marti Ryan, a spokeswoman for Animal Services.

Neicy is about 4 pounds and should be twice that, Ryan said.

"She loves to be held but it's difficult. … She's just a little rack of bones," said Ryan. "It has an effect on you."

Neicy is going home to foster care Monday, Ryan said, and should be fine, but will take a while to recuperate before she's adoptable.

Animal Services investigators expect to file charges, Ryan said.