Abandoned and emaciated  dog discovered near Malden Police Department in July making remarkable recovery

This week, a dog who was found abandoned and in terrible condition in late July near the Malden Police Department returned to visit with the officers who took immediate action upon his arrival.

Bailey, a one-year-old Chihuahua named after a Malden Police Lieutenant who was on-duty when he arrived in July and took an immediate interest in the dog, has been recovering with the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL), who was thrilled to be able to make this reunion happen.

Watch local news coverage of Bailey’s reunion.

Bailey Discovered

On Monday, July 25, Bailey was discovered huddling in some bushes along the East Coast Greenway bike trail in the area of Dell and Branch Streets.

The finder carefully wrapped the animal in a blanket and brought him to the nearby Malden Police Department where on-duty officers immediately took action to put Bailey on the road to recovery.

The dog was initially treated at an animal hospital in Charlestown and then transferred to ARL’s Boston Animal Care and Adoption Center.

Bailey was emaciated, weighing just two pounds and scoring a 2 out of 9 on the body condition score index, meaning he was emaciated.

He also suffered severe fur loss and his body is covered in scabs, and additionally, he tested positive and is being treated for Giardia, a parasitic illness that may be a further indicator that Bailey was previously living in unsanitary conditions — when presented for medical treatment, the animal was described as “malodorous” (filthy).

Recovery

Once in the care of ARL, Bailey was treated for his skin issues, and was put on a refeeding program to ensure he would gain weight slowly and safely.

He was also placed into foster care, allowing him the quiet environment he needed to heal, and to receive the ongoing care necessary for his recovery.

Although still on the mend, Bailey has gained more than a pound, his skin is healing, and his fur is starting to regrow.

Over the past two months, Bailey has also come out of his shell in his foster home, loves being around people, and has grained a tremendous amount of confidence.

This remains an ongoing investigation by ARL’s Law Enforcement Department and Malden Police. Anyone with information pertaining to the case is urged to contact ARL at (617) 426-9170 x110, or email cruelty@arlboston.org. You can also contact Malden Police at (781) 397-7171 with any pertinent information.

Please note: Bailey is not currently available for adoption.

While it’s expected for his status to change soon, there remains no timeline for when this may happen.