Officer Rick Broz has been dedicated to animal protection in Lorain, Ohio, for almost 8 years. He has assisted in the reunification of hundreds of lost dogs with their families and has advocated for stricter animal abuse laws. According to dogheirs.com, he has also personally rescued neglected and abused dogs.
Herbie, a Pit Bull mix, was one of the dogs he discovered after the police department got an anonymous call. Herbie’s story was first published on DogHeirs in 2021, and you can read it here.
In his life, he had never seen a dog that thin and yet still alive. When Officer Rick Broz (or Doc, as his friends know him) discovered a Pit Bull mix curled up on the ground outside an abandoned home, scarcely able to move, he had a thought.
Officer Broz of the Lorain Police Department responded to an anonymous report regarding the abandoned puppy in September. He couldn’t believe what he was witnessing. The malnourished dog was blind in one eye, had a shattered skull, and had an illness that had swollen his head. Officer Broz recounted the dog he rescued in his official police report:
“I noticed a light brown dog resting on the grass, maybe a pit bull.” Under its skin, every rib, vertebra, and leg bone could be seen clearly. In my profession, I’ve never seen such a malnourished dog that was still alive. A dog of this kind should be 75 pounds or more, and this dog appeared to be between 25 and 30 pounds. The top of the dog’s head was grotesquely enlarged to over twice its normal size, perhaps due to an infected puncture wound. The swelling was really closing the dog’s eyelids. Both eyeballs were filled with a yellow-green purulent discharge.”
The dog was taken to the Lorain Animal Clinic by Officer Broz. They gave him the name Herbie and started treating him right away. They realized the dog’s rehabilitation would be ‘touch and go’ due to his terrible health. Herbie’s condition improved in a matter of days. His hunger eventually began to increase as the swelling in his head subsided. Within a week and a half, he had regained some weight and was looking forward to his walks outside, wagging his tail wildly every time…
Herbie was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, cancer that is non-operable and non-responsive, shortly after Christmas. Given his progress in overcoming his weight loss and ailments, this was heartbreaking news. His cancer has not progressed to the point where it is interfering with his quality of life, according to Dr. Woods and the clinic personnel.
“He enjoys going on walks outside. According to the clinic’s website, Herbie is currently cheerful, eating well, and, most importantly, pain-free. Herbie, however, will not be adopted due to his sickness.
Officer Broz has been involved in Herbie’s progress at the clinic during his stay, and clinic workers say Herbie has formed a strong bond with his rescuer. “He’s got Officer Broz wrapped around his little finger!”
During the week, Herbie stays with Dr. Woods and his team, and on weekends, he looks forward to his special travels home with Officer Broz. Every Friday, Herbie visits Officer Broz at his home, where the two lavish love and care on each other.
Officer Broz sends regular updates about Herbie on a Facebook group page for Herbie. Officer Broz writes about a recent weekend excursion:
“The lads have returned!” Herbie has returned to my place and is sleeping well in his bed. He seemed to understand what was going on since he became excited when he learned I was at the clinic. He’s been considerably more active in the last three days, so I believe treating him paid off! During the Jeep journey home, he was rather restless, rising up and ‘looking’ around as if to ask, ‘Are we there yet?’ He felt fully at peace in the house and went straight to his newly laundered bed to lie down. It’s still a little early for him, but after he gets some rest and eats, I’ll take him downstairs to the “Man Cave,” where we’ll kick back, drink a few beers, watch some NASCAR, and do other “man stuff.”
The two watched the Super Bowl together this past weekend, as well as ‘The Puppy Bowl.’ According to Officer Broz, Herbie became “a little noisy” while watching the puppies on TV whenever the referee “blew a call.”
Officer Broz said he’ll continue to provide Herbie with a loving and caring environment and will take each day as it comes.
“We’re not sure how long he’ll live.” What is the difference between days and months? We’ll keep him going as long as he’s happy, pain-free, eating and not losing weight, and shows no signs of cancer impairing his cognition.”
An $11,000 reward was offered at the time of Herbie’s rescue for information leading to the person(s) guilty for Herbie’s cruelty and neglect. On December 1, 2021, Herbie was discovered in front of an abandoned house on West 11th Street in Lorain, Ohio.
Animal rights activists in Ohio are also pushing for stronger animal cruelty laws. Visit the Nitro Foundation website to learn more about the recently defeated animal cruelty bill – Nitro’s Law – and the need for tighter regulations in the state to protect dogs like Herbie. [Editor’s note: In 2021, the Nitro’s Law bill was signed into law.
Feb 2022 (update):
Around 2 p.m. on Friday, Herbie died gently in Doc Broz’s arms. Broz stated on his Facebook page, “I believe that if he could talk, he would tell all of you how much he adored each and every one of you and how you were the reason he was able to battle for so long.”
