Man Caught On Camera Abandoning Sick Dog in Hot Sun. Now Authorities Seek Heartless Owner
A Southern California dog owner abandoned his dog outside the Upland Animal Shelter rather than surrender her to them face-to-face. Now he is wanted by local police and is facing criminal charges related to animal cruelty.
“She was tied to our side emergency exit door. Unfortunately, it’s a door we don’t use all the time so we didn’t find her for almost two hours,” said a member of staff at Upland Animal Shelter to Fox 11 reporters in an interview. Temperatures were in the high eighties to near nineties on August 22nd, and this sweet dog was left in an area with no shade without food or water.
To make matters worse, the veterinary team at Upland Animal Shelter discovered that the chocolate Lab mix had a large, grapefruit-sized tumor growing behind her left foreleg. Not only had this dog been abandoned but she was also sick. The heat, lack of food and water, and stress would be difficult for any dog, much less a pup needing medical care.
The team at Upland Animal Shelter says that she says that she is a very social, well-behaved dog. Other than the tumor—which appears to be treatable and not life-threatening—the dog is in relatively good health. Why someone would abandon her is anyone’s guess, but it isn’t unheard of for dogs to be dumped or abandoned when their medical expenses become too much for their owners.
Police Ask For Public Assistance Identifying Dog Abandonment Suspect
Security cameras on the Upland Animal Shelter property captured footage of the man abandoning his sick Lab mix outside their facilities. In the video, the man can be seen approaching the side emergency exit with the dog on a leash. He ties the dog to the door and then leaves the scene.
Police have not yet been able to identify the suspect because he wore a black baseball cap that obscured his face. To help find the man who abandoned his dog in the hot sun, the Upland Police have asked for the public’s assistance and published the security camera footage hoping someone will recognize him.
What Are The Charges For Abandoning a Dog?
Laws regarding animal cruelty and abandonment differ from state to state, but under California law “every person who wilfully abandons any animal is guilty of a misdemeanor.” The conditions under which a dog is abandoned, their physical condition, and other circumstantial evidence can increase or decrease sentencing for this type of crime. Because this dog was abandoned without food or water and in extreme heat, her former owner may face additional charges of animal cruelty.
What makes this case especially sad is how close this dog owner was to doing the right thing. Life doesn’t always go how we want or expect it to, and hard decisions like giving up a pet sometimes have to be made. Regardless, abandoning an animal is always the wrong thing to do.
“If you can no longer care for your pet, bring them to a shelter and surrender them to their staff,” said Rocky Kanaka, pet rescue advocate. Shelter staff are trained to approach pet surrenders with empathy and understanding. “If this man had taken just a few more steps to enter the building and talk to staff, he would have saved his dog from a dangerous situation and himself from criminal charges,” Kanaka continued.
Rest & Relaxation For Dog With Tumor At Shelter
Luckily for this female chocolate Lab mix, shelter staff welcomed her with open arms. She is getting plenty of love and attention and has been looked over by the veterinary team to assess her immediate medical needs. For now, while they wait for answers, the Upland Animal Shelter will keep this pooch comfortable and get her the care she needs. Once she is healthy, she’ll be ready for adoption so she can find the loving home she deserves. To learn more about this dog visit: https://www.friendsofuplandanimalshelter.org/
