Tracy Frankenberger, 43, was charged with one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty after police found his allegedly neglected dog in the Park Place mobile home park off Route 3.

  (Photo courtesy of The Union Leader)

Police Sgt. Kris Dupuis said the dog was "underweight and severely neglected." Another officer found the dog lying next to a mobile home after someone made a complaint. The dog's ribcage and other bones were visible through its skin and the dog was urinating blood, police said.

Frankenberger was renting a mobile home at 22 Palace Ave. but has since moved out and is believed to be homeless, police said.

  (Photo courtesy of April McLeod - the dogs living conditions)

The dog, named Ed, spent several nights in two area veterinary hospitals before undergoing surgery at the Northside Animal Hospital.

Frankenberger is scheduled for arraignment Jan. 26 in Hooksett District Court. He remains free on personal recognizance.

According to court records, on January 19, 2006, Tracy Frankenberger, then 38, of 104 Franklin St. Apt. C, Franklin was arrested for driving while intoxicated and possession of a controlled drug.  He was arraigned on February 27, 2006 at Franklin District Court.

Update 1/6/11:  A professional dog walker said she was "just horrified" to find a neglected basset hound walking around the Park Place mobile home park.

(Photo's courtesy of April McLeod - Ed showing how thin he was and Ed just after he got into the police cruiser)

Rib cage exposed, wildly overgrown paw nails and urinating blood, the dog named Ed began following April McLeod and her 5 dogs, as if it were asking to be rescued.  "It's amazing to me that the dog just followed us," she said. "He recognized that he was going to be freed and going to get help.  "My immediate thought was, 'Boy, I've got to get this dog out of this situation,'" McLeod said.

(Photo's courtesy of April McLeod - Ed's overgrown nails and dirty ears)

Ed is now recovering from bladder surgery at Northside Animal Hospital in Hooksett.

McLeod said she was walking 5 dogs as part of her dog-walking business when she came upon Ed. She had taken the pooches through the woods behind Granite Hill when they made their way to Park Place, not long before finding Ed looking, "tired, worn out, and weak."

Ed had little muscle and its rib cage was exposed under the skin.  The dog also had a large infection on both of its ears, which stretched from the ear canals to the outer flaps.

McLeod said "he stunk terribly bad."

The outdoor area the dog frequented was covered with feces and debris near the trailer Frankenberger was renting, McLeod said.

When reached for comment on his cell phone, Frankenberger said he'd be getting his dog back and said, "The charges ain't correct," before refusing to make any further statement.  However, authorities say Ed won't return to Frankenberger anytime soon.

For the time being, the dog is staying at Northside Animal Hospital in Hooksett as it recovers from bladder surgery and receives medical care for other neglect-related issues.

"Ed is doing well after surgery. He is putting on some weight," Kris Peterson, a veterinary technician, said.  Peterson said Ed needed surgery to remove painful bladder stones.

As for adoption, Peterson said that because the dog was not given up voluntarily, the hospital has to wait for the outcome of the criminal case before making a decision.  "It's possible he could be put up for adoption at the end of the case," she said. "But we don't know until it gets to that point."

Police confirmed that Frankenberger was in possession of another dog at the beginning of December, but agreed to give that animal away.

Police initially said they thought Frankenberger was homeless, but a woman acting as the agent on behalf of the landlord of the trailer where Frankenberger was residing said he is still living on the Palace Avenue property despite being late in rent payments. The woman asked not to be identified publicly.

Update 3/11/11:  Ed spent several months recovering at the Northside Animal Hospital and when he was cleared medically he went to New England Basset Hound Rescue for adoption.

Ed's rescuer, April MacLeod was subpoenaed to appear in court on March 30th to testify against Frankenberger.

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