Dog abandoned outside Flint YMCA sparks community rescue effort

FLINT, Mich. — A heart-wrenching case of animal abandonment in Flint has galvanized the community to rescue a dog left tied up outside the YMCA and Crim Foundation building.

Thanks to the swift actions of concerned citizens, the dog is now safe and resting at a shelter, where he will eventually be available for adoption.

Jamie Beebe, manager at Refinery Hair Co. Salon on Harrison Street, was cleaning inside when she heard persistent barking.

“When I looked up, I noticed that there was a dog chained to the pole across the street,” Beebe said.

She observed the dog for a while and realized no one was returning for him.

“I could see that he was barking towards the bus station and was very adamant about looking down that way. So I came to the conclusion that whoever had tied him up had walked away and walked that way,” she said.

Concerned for the dog's safety, Beebe and others provided him with water.

Police and animal control arrived shortly after. Despite his loud barking, Beebe noted the dog was not threatening and simply sought comfort.

“He was just so friendly and very welcoming to the love that he was getting. And it just really kind of made it more sad because it felt like he was very neglected… and he really needed that extra love,” she said.

Hannah Peterson, a social media specialist with Genesee County Animal Control, said such situations are all too common.

“If a dog is abandoned they feel that panic and they feel that fear and they you know they sit and they watch their their owner leave them and that's it's so heartbreaking to know that that people are okay with doing that,” Peterson said.

Peterson emphasized that there are many options for pet owners in difficult situations that do not involve abandonment.

“There's so many things that you know people can do. We have resources that we are so happy to give to people but it's just a matter of reaching out and communicating and actively trying to seek that assistance and get that help,” she said.

She warned that leaving an animal outside and hoping for the best is never the right choice.

“You could get lucky and you have someone who you know maybe an animal lover. There's also the other side of that where it could be somebody who maybe has different intentions,” she said.

Beebe and others who intervened are still thinking about the dog. “I really hope he just finds a good home that gives him the love that he deserves,” Beebe said.

While it will be some time before the dog is ready for adoption, those interested in him or other pets at the shelter, or in learning more about resources for struggling pet owners, can contact Genesee County Animal Control.