Staff at the Clark County Animal Shelter in Kentucky arrived at the facility after hours to take care of a dog’s medical needs. When they got there, they found a new dog sitting in their fenced area. The dog is a medium-sized, seemingly healthy Pit Bull.
The staff members double-checked their calls, emails, and Facebook messages to see if someone had contacted them before dropping the dog, but they couldn’t find anything. So they look at their security cameras and are shocked by what they see. A man threw the dog over the fence and quickly sped away.
Catch red-handed
Police surveillance at Clark County Animal Welfare Facility caught the man’s number plate and face as he dumped his dog at the shelter. The staff did not know why the man did not contact them. Even after hours, they can help people reach their emergency lines.
The shelter posted the story on Facebook with a screenshot of the man throwing the dog over the fence. They asked the man to come forward so they could go through a proper surrender procedure. Abandoning an animal is a Class A misdemeanor, so they said they would file criminal charges if necessary.
RELATED: The Dog That Was Thrown Over The Fence By The Rescue Team Has Been Abused And Abandoned For Years
“Our staff can be reached using any of these methods even after hours, and there are instructions on the machine to reach someone in an emergency. We are willing to work because we care about animals and they should not be punished for humans,” wrote Clark County Animal Shelter. “We are asking this person to contact us immediately to complete the appropriate surrender procedures and provide us with the information needed to be able to find this dog a new home.”
The next day, the dog’s owner returned to the shelter to explain himself. He was heartbroken when the media suggested that he tried to hurt his dog. He told them he left the dog there because he thought it was the only way to keep it safe.
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According to the man, there was a medical emergency he had to go to and the person who was supposed to look after his dog got up. So he thought the shelter would be the safest place for his dog. He threw him over the fence and planned to jump the fence the next day to get him back. He didn’t realize that the shelter would be willing to help if he called them.
The man has a vet profile and a photo of the dog. He spoke with shelter staff for about two hours, as they confirmed that his story was true. After all, they let the man bring his dog home and decided not to press charges. However, they remind him and the community that calling or emailing the shelter first is the right course of action in these situations.
The man said: “I really love my dog and I’m glad things didn’t get worse.
Everyone agreed that the man’s initial actions were not okay. But the dog lovers at the shelter made sure the dog was safe and well cared for before sending it home. Not everyone is aware of what to do when faced with something like this, so shelter workers hope this is a good learning experience for both the man and everyone after this story.
Featured pictures: Facebook
