Hibbing Animal Intake (HAI) is currently overseeing the care of a 14-week-old, female Great Dane/Mastiff they’ve named Gigi.
She came into HAI’s custody last week after Hibbing Police Department (HPD) arrested her owner and charged him with one felony count of animal cruelty amounting to torture and one misdemeanor count for deprivation of food or shelter.
City of Hibbing Code Enforcement Supervisor Alyssa Garcia, who is currently overseeing HAI, was responsible for picking Gigi up from the Mesaba Animal Hospital, where HPD had transported her. Garcia said their first encounter was a welcome surprise, given all Gigi had been through.
“When I picked her up, she was happy and her tail was wagging. She was ready to go out the door, just so happy,” said Garcia.
The vet there was surprised at how well she did overnight compared to how she was when initially brought in.
“The day prior she wasn’t in stable condition and could not get up on her own,” said Garcia. “They didn’t think meds would make that much difference, but everyone was blown away with how she was bouncing back.”
Prior to vet treatment, Gigi was under weight and malnourished.
She had at least one broken hind leg.
Her ribs were protruding and of concern. So was her pelvis.
Plus, she had a contusion on her head.
“Seeing animals abused in this capacity is so hard to witness, but they love that she is pouring out is what makes it easier,” said Garcia. “She has been through a lot. She still loves humans and just wants to be a puppy.”
On Wednesday, a Duluth-based vet took a close look at Gigi by sedating and x-raying her. It was confirmed that she has two broken femurs and a broken tibia which healed itself in a questionable condition, said Garcia. The vet also took a close look at her ribs, where detachment was a concern, and her pelvis. Both were OK.
“And the goose egg (contusion) is still on her head,” noted Garcia. “We’re not sure exactly what it is, but it doesn’t seem to be affecting her. We’re hoping that its inflammation and will eventually go down.”
This vet’s findings will be passed on to two animal surgeons for opinions on whether to proceed with mending Gigi, and if so, how so.
“With her one femur, the vet could hear the bone crunching. She is able to walk and do some things on her own, but we want to keep her stable, so she’ll be using a sling when walking around,” said Garcia.
A lot of rest so her body doesn’t have to overcompensate more than it must are also part of the vet’s orders.
“There’s still a very long road of her, and the opinions of the two different surgeons will determine that possible path,” explained Garcia. “These are things we wanted to look at and know before considering euthanasia.”
Gigi is currently staying with a foster family in a non-shelter environment. We’re grateful to Elissa and Chris Degnan for opening their home to her.
“We are trying every resource we have to help her,” added Garcia. “We are unsure what the outcome will be in the end, but we’re doing all we can in our power.”
To learn more about Gigi or how to help, contact Hibbing Animal Intake at 218-262-1900.
“Again, her willingness to thrive and survive is just so unremarkable,” said Garcia. “It is amazing to see her resilience. She endured a lot of abuse, but she is the happiest pup.”
Reports about the charges:
https://www.wdio.com/front-page/top-stories/hibbing-man-charged-for-animal-abuse/
https://www.fox21online.com/2025/04/09/animal-torture-case-leads-to-charges-against-hibbing-man/
