Neighbors say this boxer-mix dog is being starved to death. The dog’s owner denies the claim. (Photo provided)

Since Friday, Milford Police officers have visited a home four times in response to social media photos and complaints that a dog is being starved to death.

Today, StaceyPageOnline.com went to the home on East Smith Street in Milford and, accompanied by Milford Town Marshal Rich Miotto, spoke with the dog’s owner, Taylar Roberts.

Roberts said she acquired Buster as a puppy from a pet rescue through Craigslist when he was only 3 weeks old. She said the now 2-year-old dog has dealt with problems gaining weight since he was a puppy, but assured he is being fed, watered and loved. “He is mostly indoors … and he has rickets,” she said, referring to his outward turned front paws.

According to Roberts, the dog has been seen by Lake City Animal Clinic in Warsaw since he was a puppy and even the veterinarians there cannot figure out why he is not gaining weight. Roberts said the dog is “about three months” overdue for its vaccinations and will be going to the vet “in a few weeks.”

Dr. Bethany Couture said, “We haven’t seen the dog recently, but we did do a full puppy exam and vaccinations.” While animal medical records are kept private, she added that Roberts has “a good history” with the animal clinic, although Buster has never been treated for a weight issue. She confirmed the dog has not been seen this year.

Roberts told StaceyPageOnline.com that her mother has agreed to take Buster on the weekends to try to help. Roberts has a 2-year-old son and is expected to deliver a second baby within the next month.

Dr. Couture would not confirm or deny Roberts claim that the dog has rickets, which is a softening of the bones due to a deficiency of vitamin D. Vitamin D also helps the body absorb calcium, but rickets is diagnosed with a physical exam, X-rays and tests to check calcium levels.

The controversy surrounding Buster began Friday when Taylor Ream posted two photos of the dog on her Facebook page. Ream said she and another girl, Gracen Balser, saw the dog and provided it some food. One of the photos taken by the girls shows the dog eating the offerings. Roberts said the dry food that was given to the dog has not been eaten. It’s not clear whether the small pile of food seen today was left over from Friday, or if it was fresh.

Although people on Ream’s Facebook page claim the dog is being removed from its home, that is not the case.

Milford Police are continuing to receive phone calls about the dog and Marshal Miotto said he has contacted Kosciusko County Animal Control but, “Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do. There’s some food out there and they say it’s being watered.” Roberts said they fill a bathtub inside the house that all three of their dogs drink from. Inside the home today was a dachshund and a malamute mix puppy.

“(Milford Officer Tim) Miller was out last night and they fed and watered him in front of him. He said the dog is fine,” Miotto added.

Observing the dog today found no signs of lethargy or pain. It’s emaciated state, if not the result of starvation, could also be the result of a medical condition. Dr. Couture said internal diseases should not be ruled out. Diabetes and parasites may create malnutrition in canines, but a full veterinarian examination would need to be completed.

Charlene Swift of an area dog rescue group known as Indiana Save a Dog, saw the photos on Facebook and contacted StaceyPageOnline.com. “All I know is that ribs should not be showing, or hip bones … At some point, the dog has not been fed properly or the dog is ill.”

Dr. Couture said their records indicate Buster is a boxer mix. While boxers do tend to be thinner animals, Swift added, “There is obviously something wrong with this dog from the photos I saw … This is not a normal physical condition for any breed.”

Dr. Carla Carlton of Lake City Animal Clinic responded to a photo of Buster noting, “Obviously the dog in this photo is emaciated. That is all that I can offer. I hope the dog gets the attention it needs.”

Indiana Save a Dog is hoping Roberts will surrender the dog so it can be treated and nursed back to a healthy condition. Roberts said she had no intention of giving the dog to anyone.

Swift concluded that, while malnourished dogs can still have high energy, as Buster does, ” … it won’t last long. A photo tells it all. This dog is going to die left unattended.”