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NEWPORT BEACH – A Newport Coast woman was charged Wednesday with neglecting to care for her dog’s 42-pound tumor after, authorities say, she dropped the canine off at a pet hospital and falsely claimed she had found him abandoned on the beach.

A recovering Henry – the name authorities have given the 7-year-old golden retriever – watched from a sidewalk at the Newport Beach Civic Center as prosecutors and animal control officials announced the misdemeanor charges filed against Sherri Haughton.

“It’s important to keep in mind that when we adopt a pet into our home, we have certain responsibilities for care or treatment of our pet,” Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Malone said. “There is some evidence that she did see a vet. However, she was notified of his circumstances and did not obtain treatment or surgery.”

Haughton, who dropped Henry off at a Newport Beach animal hospital on May 12 and said she found him abandoned on the beach, authorities said, faces charges of animal abuse causing life-threatening injuries, failing to properly care for an animal, animal abandonment and interfering with a Newport Beach Animal Control officer’s investigation.

If convicted, she faces up to two years in Orange County jail. She could not be reached for comment.

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Owners whose pets face painful or life-threatening medical ailments have the option to pay for treatment, turn over the animal to someone able to get the animal help, or give the pet to an animal-care agency, such as OC Animal Control, Malone said.

“If a person does not avail his- or herself to any of these options, criminal charges can attach,” Malone said. “The main thing we look at is no animal should be subjected to needless pain and suffering.”

It was unclear how many such cases are prosecuted in the county each year.

Henry’s stomach tumor has been removed, and the canine is under treatment to make sure it doesn’t come back.

“Henry is doing a lot better now,” said Nick Ott, a Newport Beach Animal Control officer. “ He is very happy, he is very mobile. … He is a happy dog now.”

The dog has become something of a local celebrity, animal control officials said, happily pulling his keepers along to meet with visitors. He is living with an experienced, volunteer foster-care family. Like many golden retrievers, officials say, Henry is a bottomless pit of affection.

Orange County Supervisor Michele Steele urged residents to learn from Henry’s experience and turn to local resources.

“We can bring any dog in, at any time, in any condition,” Steele said. “Don’t just abandon dogs. … They are family members.”

Kevin Marlin, the director of the Orange County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ pet-therapy program, noted that most vets are willing to work with pet owners to come up with payments plans for costlier surgeries. Local non-profit organizations may help shoulder the financial load, too.

While many financially overwhelmed pet owners may not be acting out of malice toward their animals, Marlin said, they still aren’t putting their pet’s best interests in mind.

“I think it’s a combination of a lack of knowledge or hope it will get better on its own,” Marlin said. “We’ve come across a lot of cases where the people have the best intentions at heart, but they aren’t doing the right thing for the animal. It gets out of hand.”

Marlin brought his own rescue dog to join Henry on Wednesday. Patriot, a 4-year-old Siberian husky, still has the scars on his face where his former owner allegedly used wire to muzzle the dog.

Through his recovery, Patriot has become a member of the pet-therapy program, comforting abused women and children who can identify with him.

“It’s extremely rewarding to know you can make that difference for them and show them the world is not the evil place they think it is,” Marlin said of his work with rescue dogs.

A list of resources for those looking for help with animal care is available at orangecountyspca.org.

Henry, a golden retriever, during an animal cruelty press conference in Newport Beach on Wednesday. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Kevin Marlin, Program Director of the Orange County SPCA, holds on to Patriot, a Siberian husky that was injured from animal cruelty during a press conference in Newport Beach on Wednesday. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Valerie Schomburg, animal control supervisor, shows where a tumor was found in Henry. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Patriot, a Siberian husky, left, and Henry, a golden retriever, rest. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Henry, a golden retriever, during an animal cruelty press conference in Newport Beach on Wednesday. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Kevin Marlin, program director of the Orange County SPCA, holds on to Patriot. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Patriot is taking a breather. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Henry, a golden retriever, rests during an animal cruelty press conference in Newport Beach. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Contact the writer: semery@ocregister.com