The Vicksburg Warren Humane Society has received custody of a dog that was found emaciated by a Warren County Sheriff’s Deputy at a home in the Bovina area.

Warren County Justice Court Judge Jeff Crevitt turned the dog, a mixed Labrador retriever, over to the Humane Society Wednesday after a hearing in Justice Court. Crevitt also ordered a mixed pit bull found with the other dog and also in poor condition to be held at the Humane Society while it undergoes treatment for heartworms.

Crevitt said the pit bull’s owners could get the dog after it has undergone the treatment if they reimburse the Humane Society for the dog’s housing, care and the heartworm treatment, which was estimated to have a total cost between $1,200 to $1,300.

The dogs were initially taken to the Humane Society after a neighbor complained about the mixed lab’s condition. A sheriff’s deputy responding to the call contacted the Humane Society after seeing the condition of the dogs.

Humane Society director Georgia Lynn said the animal’s rib cage was visible, and its skin would not go back to its original position after it was pulled. “It was emaciated and dehydrated,” she said, adding both dogs had heartworms.

Owner Cory Harrison said he found the mixed lab on the side of the road a few days before the complaint was filed. He said he and his wife were trying to “fatten him up,” and the dog was very weak and lethargic when they picked it up.

Harrison said he got the pit bull from a boy who wanted to get rid of the dog, and he had just lost a dog to heartworms. He said he had never taken the dogs to a veterinarian.

Crevitt awarded the mixed lab to the Humane Society because of its condition. He ordered the other dog kept at the Humane Society for heartworm treatment after Lynn told him the dogs needed to be kept in a kennel under a controlled environment and kept calm. She said the pit bull acted aggressively toward other dogs, and if it became too excited, the intensive treatment could kill it.