Staff members at the Clark County Animal Shelter in Kentucky came to the facility after hours to take care of a dog’s medical needs. When they got there, they found a new dog sitting inside their fenced-in area. The pup was a medium-sized Pit Bull who seemed healthy.
The staff members double-checked their calls, emails, and Facebook messages to see if someone had contacted them before dropping off the dog, but they didn’t find anything. So, they looked at their security cameras, and they were shocked by what they saw. A man had tossed the dog over the fence and quickly drove away.
Caught in the Act
Surveillance Footage at the Clark County Animal Shelter caught the man’s license plate and face as he dumped his dog at the shelter. The staff had no idea why the man hadn’t contacted them. Even after hours, they can help people who reach out to their emergency line.
The shelter posted the story on Facebook with a screenshot of the man tossing the dog over the fence. They asked the man to come forward so they could go through a proper surrender procedure. Animal abandonment is a Class A misdemeanor, so they said they’d file criminal charges if needed.
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“Our staff can be reached by any of these methods even after hours and there are instructions on the machine to reach someone for emergencies. We make ourselves available because we care about animals and they shouldn’t be punished because of people,” Clark County Animal Shelter wrote. “We are asking this person to contact us immediately to complete proper surrender procedures and give us the information we need 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 that the media thought he had tried to hurt his dog. He told them he left the dog there because he thought it was the only way to keep him safe.
There’s More to the Story
According to the man, there was a medical emergency he had to get to, and the person who was supposed to watch his dog stood him up. So, he thought the shelter would be the safest place for his dog. He tossed him over the fence and planned to jump the fence the following day to get him back. He hadn’t realized the shelter would’ve willingly helped if he called them.
The man had vet records and photos of the dog. He talked to the shelter staff for about two hours, as they confirmed that his story was true. After everything, they let the man take his dog home and decided not to press charges. However, they reminded him and the community that calling or emailing the shelter first is the right move in these situations.
“I truly love my dog, and I’m happy that things didn’t end up in a worse situation,” the man said.
Everyone agrees that the man’s initial actions weren’t okay. But the dog lovers at the shelter made sure the dog was safe and well cared for before sending him home. Not everyone is aware of the right thing to do when they’re faced with something like this, so the shelter staff hopes this was a good learning experience for both the man and everyone following this story.
Featured Image: Facebook
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