Lansford Councilwoman Jennifer Staines wants people to see the faces of abused animals in the borough, and renewed her commitment to work on the community’s animal ordinance.

She brought one of her rescue animals, a 5-pound Chihuahua named Senor Chili, to council’s committee meetings.

Staines rescued the 18-year-old abused dog from the streets of Lansford two years ago, and he wasn’t expected to live, she said.

“He never saw a vet. He was outside with no shelter, no food and no water,” she said. “Every tooth in his mouth rotted and fell out. Any one of the infections could have killed him, but he’s a fighter.”

On Tuesday night, Senor Chili checked out the borough building, stopping for some love along the way across the lengthy room and back - no small feat for a little old man, as he’d be 126 in dog years.

He spent most of the nearly three-hour meeting quietly curled up on a cushion of a wooden chair next to Staines, moving only to reposition himself as voices rose and fell throughout the evening.

“This 5-pound dog, somebody fractured his back and he had a skull fracture,” Staines said, noting he has a permanent head tilt from his injuries.

“I just want everyone to know the face of abuse and know that it happens here,” she said.

Staines passed around her phone with photos of abused animals that she has rescued - all from within the borough’s limits, she said.

She renewed her commitment to working on the borough’s animal ordinance to increase fines, and go after people who repeatedly mistreat animals in town, she said.

Staines pointed to cases where dogs have been abandoned in homes, dogs used for illegal dog fighting, dogs as bait dogs, and those used for excessive breeding and abandoned.

She said she won’t buy a puppy, but instead will continue to rescue older animals who have not had a good life at the hands of cruel people.

“I want to them to know love before they die,” Staines said.