Two 16-year-olds are facing animal cruelty charges after Anne Arundel County police responded to a call about what appeared to be a dogfight.
Shortly before 5:30 p.m. Thursday, a caller told police that there were about five people watching two dogs fighting in the woods near Athena Lane and Loving Road in Severn, according to a police statement.
Police said that as they arrived, the group scattered, running toward Arwell Court, which is in the Orchards of Severn community. Officers arrested two teenage boys, one of whom was carrying a pit bull puppy by the neck. Police took the dog to a nearby veterinarian.
The staff at the Telegraph Road Animal Hospital named the female puppy Candy and is treating her, with plans to find her a home once she is better.
A second dog was seen running into the woods. Police said they did not find that dog or the other people.
The Department of Juvenile Services placed the teenagers in the Cheltenham Youth Facility, police said.
Each teen was charged with animal cruelty, dog fighting, restraining a dog without food, water or shelter and in unsanitary conditions, and other related charges, according to county officials.
On Thursday, animal welfare advocates had urged members of a State House committee to pass legislation that would double the penalties in animal cruelty convictions. Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold, who testified at the hearing, suggested the legislation after the shooting last year of a Siberian husky in a neighborhood dog park.
Dr. Knox Inman, medical director of the Telegraph Road Animal Hospital, described the puppy as "very thin, very underweight," but exactly why was not known.
Although she appears to be between 4 and 6 months old, she is small and weighs 13 pounds, 12 ounces.
"Her bones are quite prominent on her back, on her hips," Inman said.
Inman said the puppy needed a healthy diet and to gain some weight. He couldn't tell which of the lesions, scabs and marks on the dog were the result of skin disease, bacteria or fights, though some were infected. She appeared to have mites.
"She needs nursing care," he said. "We're going to treat the puppy here and get the puppy in good shape."
That is likely to take at least a week.
"She's eating and wagging her tail and licking me on the nose. She's a sweet puppy," Inman said.