HOBOKEN — A small, apparently neglected dog that was brought in a box to the Hoboken Animal Hospital on Washington Street a week ago is still recovering, said Robin Murphy, a groomer at the hospital who is taking care of the pooch.
Besides working at the hospital, Murphy is a volunteer with Hoboken-based Companion Animal Placement, a group that helps find homes for animals. The group is paying for the dog’s treatment at the hospital.
Murphy said that a man brought the puppy to the hospital and “said he found this box outside of a church in Hoboken, taped up, but there were holes put in it. It said ‘Bring to 640 Washington St.,’ which is us. Our protocol is, when an animal is found, we just stabilize it and call a shelter, but I work with Companion Animal Placement, so we’re paying for the dog.”
Workers weren’t sure the animal was alive at first. Because the dog has lost fur due to mange, and is being treated for dehydration, he can’t be adopted out yet. Murphy estimated the dog is under 6 months old, and probably a Yorkie, Maltese, or some other small breed. She said he was neglected, but there are no signs that he was hit.
“He’s a very happy, wagging-tailed puppy,” she said. “[The owners] may not have known how to take care of it; they let it go way too far. There’s help out there if you don’t have money, or even go to the shelter.”
They have named the dog Benjamin and already have heard from people willing to adopt him.
The hospital can be reached at 201-963-3604. To donate to Companion Animal Placement, write to CAP, PO Box 3365, Hoboken, NJ, 07030.
Hoboken dog still recovering after being left in a box
