Memorial service in the works for Mr. Buttons, the dog abandoned in Botetourt County
BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) – From the moment Botetourt County posted the first picture of Mr. Buttons on social media, he captured the community’s heart.
He arrived at Angels of Assisi with pressure sores, worms, and multiple diseases. The staff got to work, but the neglect was so extreme that unfortunately, Mr. Buttons didn’t make it.
“I think that’s what is so heartbreaking about his case. We feel that he suffered for a long time and we had really hoped to give him some time when he wasn’t, and in the couple day we had him, I think that happened. We just wished it was longer,” said Lisa O’Neill, the director of Angels of Assisi.
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Veterinarians at Virginia Tech will perform a necropsy to find out more about exactly what Mr. Buttons went through and ultimately what killed him.
The Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office is also investigating, under Virginia law, if they find someone inflicting inhuman pain on a dog, it could lead to charges. Charges can range from a misdemeanor to a class six felony, which could result in 5 years in prison.
“Depending on the severity of what occurred with the animal- sort of determines what level that rises to from the perspective of the prosecuting attorney,” said Denise Hayes, Chief Executive Officer at the Roanoke Valley SPCA.
Angels of Assisi plans to take in Mr. Button’s ashes after the necropsy in hopes to hold a memorial service, so the community has a chance to grieve the dog they’d all come to love.
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“We want to give him as much dignity and a final resting place that we can possibly do,” said O’Neill.
And, wants everyone to know that Angels of Assisi is always there for anyone who needs help with an animal.
In the meantime, the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office is offering a reward for tips leading to an arrest in Mr. Button’s case.
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