Heartbreak as Woman Caught on Camera Dumping 4 Small Dogs Outside Shelter
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A troubling incident unfolded outside a Texas shelter last Saturday when four dogs were abandoned on the property—three left inside the fenced yard, and one outside near a busy highway.
The Denison Animal Welfare Group (DAWG) shelter captured the moment on a security camera and the footage has since been shared on social media.
The video revealed a woman arriving in a silver Jeep and releasing the dogs without seeking assistance, despite the shelter's open bay doors and visible staff presence.
Stephanie Phillips, president of DAWG, told Newsweek: "The shelter is an old fire station, so we have extra large bay doors that were open, and staff was present. She did not attempt to ask for assistance."
"When we saw the camera footage, we came out and collected the animals. One had immediately gotten loose next to a busy highway, and staff members laid down in the driveway to catch her," she explained.
Pictures from the video of the moment the dogs were abandoned outside the Texas shelter.
Pictures from the video of the moment the dogs were abandoned outside the Texas shelter.
The Denison Animal Welfare Group DAWG
Following the incident, the woman later identified herself and left a voicemail admitting to the abandonment. Phillips contacted her, and she agreed to sign owner surrender forms and provide information about the dogs.
"The dogs range in age from 1 year old to 6, and they were in general good health," Phillips said. "They have some minor medical issues that need to be addressed, and once those are taken care of, they will be spayed and neutered and offered for adoption."
No criminal charges will be filed. Denison Animal Services Officers identified the woman, but the shelter chose not to pursue legal action, citing the best interests of the animals involved.
Despite this, the shelter shared the video on Facebook to raise awareness and remind people that it is important to surrender animals through the proper channels. "Our staff was present, and the garage door was open, making this act unnecessary," they said on Facebook.
Since the post, the shelter has closed the comments to prevent "rude" and "hateful" comments, but hope that the story will serve as a warning for people who may be thinking about surrendering an animal.
In the first half of 2024, 3,118,000 animals entered U.S. shelters, including 1,533,000 dogs and 1,565,000 cats. Shelters often share stories of abandonments where previous pet owners have dumped animals without speaking to shelter workers, who iterate the importance of giving information when handing over animals.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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