Alachua County Animal Services is searching for a woman who dumped a dog at its shelter around 9 a.m. Wednesday before driving off.
Julie Johnson, director of animal services, said staff saw it happen and ran out to get the dog. But the dog ran after the car, zigzagging across NW 53rd Avenue, and nearly caused a collision.
The Gainesville shelter wasn’t open yet, and the woman left the dog outside the closed gate.
Johnson said it was terrifying. She said this type of leaving a pet doesn’t happen often but enough that people should know better when surrendering an animal to the shelter. Animal surrenders are by appointment, and Johnson said anyone can then come during business hours, bring the animal inside and leave it with staff.
The puppy is now safe at the shelter. Johnson said he’s in good shape, just terrified. The shelter will give shots, fix him and put him up for adoption.
Johnson said if the woman is identified, animal services will pursue cruelty charges. That process involves a citation and appearance before a judge. Florida Statutes prevent leaving animals in public places without providing for its care.
Anyone with information should contact Alachua County Animal Resources at 352-264-6870 or email acas@alachuacounty.us.
I hope they find her! She needs to be prosecuted for this. There is no excuse, no matter what the situation was. How do you drive away knowing your dog, scared and confused, is chasing after you?? Absolutely a heartless excuse for a person!
What she did is wrong.. but I can’t help that she may have been embarrassed to and it may have taken every last nerve to do it. She may have been upset about getting rid of him/her…I feel as bad for her as I do the dog.was probably heart wrenching for both.
But leaving the dog to run after her down a very busy street could have cost him his life. I understand that some people can’t keep a pet for one reason or another, but she should have surrendered him the right way. I hope that someone very loving and kind gives him a forever home.
She broke that pups heart. I hope they find her.
Cruel just cruel lowest action from a waste of human skin
This is heartbreaking. That poor little baby. I hope she get punished. How can anyone drive off while a scared puppy is running after you? She has no heart! We need much stronger laws for animal abuse. People often only get a slap on the wrist, if anything.
We don’t know the full story. For all we know – she could be a kind young lady who spotted a pup in her way to work….and did what she thought best for the pup. Of course, I may very well be wrong. Fact is – we simply don’t know.
Are yall crazy criminalizing any one for dropping an animal at an animal shelter.. now think about it ..maybe the dog was running in the streets while the person was on way home from work .. or maybe it escaped it owners and was lost and a citizen picked it up to take it to a safer place … anyone ever consider this. And most important for what ever reason maybe they couldn’t cone during business hours so instead of the alternatives they left them my question os why if you are in the animal rescue industry do u not have a kernel or other after hours drop of that can keep the animal safe
. Because this world is far from perfect and the idea of criminalizing anyone for dropping zn animal irregardless of when ay an snimal shelter is ridiculas and defeating in the years I have spent trying to educate and advocate the public on animal awareness.. so next time you see an animal in danger on the road or otherwise think about how many will be ignored if in fact taking it to an animal shelter after hours leads to criminal penslties!
Not the reality .
Seriously
Expletive
Thanks msd censors…..