LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — A person is facing charges after dumping a dog outside of the Paws 4 The Cause building on Friday morning.
Officials say the dog was outside of the non-profit in a crate for about an hour, just as storms were about to hit the area.
“It’s a responsibility and it’s a commitment that you make for 15 years,” said Anita Spreitzer, the vice president and general manager at Paws 4 The Cause.
“It’s a problem officials say is becoming all too common. Pet owners abandoning their animals.
“I got a phone call from one of the kennel techs, that came, comes in in the morning and, very early this morning that when she drove up there was a dog that was abandoned outside a building in a crate and left there,” said Spreitzer.
Paws 4 The Cause is a non profit organization dedicated to rescuing animals from extreme situations, but, “legally in Fayette County, we’re not allowed to take in strays and when somebody dumps a dog like that in front of our building. It’s considered a stray,” added Spreitzer.
Spreitzer with the organization says she was enraged especially thinking about what could’ve happened if no one had seen the dog.
“So many different factors could have happened this morning without us being able to find that dog. We have a lot of, we have a big homeless community here in this area. They could have let the dog out of the kennel. The dog could have ran across the street on Newtown Pike, it could have caused an accident, she could have got killed, it could have caused people to get killed. That’s the wrong way of doing things,” she says.
Spreitzer says because Paws 4 The Cause legally cannot take in strays, Lexington Animal Care and Control was called to pick up the dog.
She says the dog was visibly afraid in her crate.
The pit bull is now being taken care of at Lexington Animal Care and Control.
As for the person who abandoned the dog, “that person now is going to be legally charged for abandonment because there is a law here in Kentucky that states you cannot abandon an animal and it’s considered cruelty and it is, and we’re seeing this more and more and in the rural areas, we’re seeing dogs being dumped by the hundreds and Kentucky is in a crisis right now and, and we get it. But the thing is, is that we know that the numbers that are going on right now, we’re not going to be able to save them all,” added Spreitzer.
She says it is likely this year, more animals will be euthanized than ever before because most shelters and rescues are at capacity.
“We’re pleading and begging every single day for fosters to step up. We’re pleading and begging for adopters to step up. Some of our supporters have handed out, donations to defray the expense on some of the dogs that have been long time, timers here so we can discount their adoption fees so we can get them into homes,” she added.
She says if anyone finds themselves in a position where they may need to give up their pet, you should do your research first.
Spreitzer says the way they fund their facility is through donations.
Donations and adoption fees are spent for the direct care of animals.
Spreitzer says they are also hoping to build their community center, which will feature an expanded kennel area and low cost spay/neuter.
To learn more about the organization, click here.
