I-Team: Man suing city for animal abuse

Diesel, a 10-year-old greyhound, was brought to the Providence Animal Shelter after being sprayed by a skunk. After a few days there, his owner was told the dog had to go to a vet.

“He looked terrible. He was very, very lethargic. He looked like he was on the verge of death,“ said Don Izzo, the dog’s owner.

The man said Diesel was severely injured at the shelter. The dog had cuts, bruises and deep gashes which required stitches.

He’s also lost a lot of weight.

“I think it’s the Hanoi Hilton, personally,“ Izzo said about his impression of the city shelter.

One animal right’s activist wants Mayor David Cicilline to change the way the animal shelter in Providence is operated but claims Cicilline doesn’t want to hear it.

“We brought a number of issues to the mayor in 2003, in person. Photos, documents, witnesses and it’s still the same problem down there,“ said Dennis Tabella of the Defenders of Animals.

In a statement to the I-Team, the mayor said, “Every animal in the care of the Animal Control Shelter should be cared for professionally and with compassion. This standard should be the same whether the shelter is managed by the police department or civilians.

Cicilline said anyone having a complaint can contact the police department.

Izzo said he’s through calling and that he’s going to sue the city for the $240 vet bill he had to pay to treat Diesel.