A dog was rescued by police after its owner abandoned it at the airport when they learned that the pup would need a crate to be eligible to board the plane. The Allegheny County Police Department in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, shared the story of the puppy rescue on their Facebook page in a post that has since gone semi-viral.
According to the post, the dog was found in a stroller left unattended at the airport. They noted that multiple attempts were made to learn the names of the owners and locate them but have had no success to date. While the identity of the owners seems to be known by authorities, no resolution has been announced. The most recent update was on August 4.
The department wrote, “Officers were able to locate a microchip on the animal but attempts to reach the owner were unsuccessful. Investigators learned the dog’s owner was told by airline officials the dog needed to be placed in a crate in order to fly. The investigation revealed the owner then abandoned the dog near short-term parking and proceeded to board a flight.”
Police noted that through working with other state authorities, the owners would likely face penalties for abandoning the dog. “County police contacted the state dog warden to safely turn over the dog. A charge of animal abandonment is expected to be filed against the owner by the state dog warden.”
The Animal Legal Defense Fund ranks Pennsylvania in the middle tier in regard to the severity of their animal abandonment laws. In many states, animal abandonment carries a felony charge that would likely apply in this case if all facts are reported correctly.
The ALDF notes that in recent years, “legislators and society in general are recognizing the severity of animal neglect crimes, and the need for harsher penalties to deter future violators.”
US Legal defines animal abandonment as when “a person commits the crime of animal abandonment if the person intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence leaves a domestic animal or an equine at a location without providing minimum care.”
Thankfully for the dog in this particular case, it will have an opportunity to find owners that love and appreciate it the way that man’s best friend deserves. The heartlessness of the owners shocked the comment section, who were quick to wish the dog good luck in finding a better home.
One commenter said, “I’m thinking the dog is better off with a new owner. Poor baby.”
Another noted, “Kudos to you guys for coming to the rescue! Here’s hoping the pup finds a good home with caring, kind and intelligent people.”
One more offered hope that dog might find a forever home, saying, “I’m in the butler area I’ll take him!!! How could someone do that!”
Featured image credit: Alleghany County Police Department
"*" indicates required fields