Latest news with #AnimalLawEnforcement
Newsweek
01-08-2025
- General
- Newsweek
CCTV Captures Moment Critically Ill Puppies Are Dumped Outside Shelter
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Pennsylvania SPCA are seeking help after a box of severely ill puppies were abandoned outside the ACCT Philly shelter last week. Security footage captured from the shelter parking lot at approximately 2:15 p.m. on July 24 showed the moment two people pulled into the shelter's parking lot, leaving a box near the entrance before driving away. When staff looked inside the cardboard box, they were shocked by what was inside. It contained two six-to-eight-week-old puppies suffering from terrible wounds and covered in maggots. ACCT Philly contacted the Pennsylvania SPCA's Animal Law Enforcement team, and the puppies were transferred to the PSPCA's hospital immediately. The puppies were in a "critical" state when they arrived and were quickly rushed to get medical help. Gillian Kocher, director of public relations at the PSPCA, told Newsweek: "The puppies had open wounds, some necrotic and were infested with maggots throughout their bodies." Pictures from the security footage of the dog drop off. Pictures from the security footage of the dog drop off. Pennsylvania SPCA The puppies, believed to be shepherd or husky mixes, were transferred to the Pennsylvania SPCA's hospital. One required emergency care at an off-site facility but both are now showing signs of improvement. "The puppies are not anywhere near being ready for adoption. We are still doing everything we can do ensure they survive. That is our main focus at this time," Kocher said. "We do hope that when they are stable enough, they are able to go into foster care to continue their recovery." According to the 2024 Shelter Animals Count Annual Report, approximately 5.77 million dogs and cats entered shelters and rescues across the United States through community intakes, which excludes animals transferred from other organizations. Of these, about 60 percent, or roughly 3.46 million animals, were found as strays, making stray intake the leading cause of shelter entries. This included approximately 1.7 million stray dogs and 1.79 million stray cats. Currently, the Pennsylvania SPCA Animal Law Enforcement team are working to try and established the details around the case. In a post on Facebook, the SPCA urged anyone with any information to come forward in helping to identify the people who left the animals at the shelter, hoping to ensure no other animals are in danger, and learn more about where the puppies came from. "An investigation is underway which is why we are working to identify the individuals in question," Kocher said. Anyone with information about the individuals in the footage is asked to contact the Pennsylvania SPCA's Humane Law Enforcement cruelty hotline at 866-601-7722 or email cruelty@ Tips can be left anonymously.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rescuer Responds to 'Panicked' Call About Injured Dog and Finds an Abandoned 'Tiger' Instead
The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region recently responded to a call from a concerned citizen who thought they saw an injured dog on the side of the road The Colorado shelter sent an officer from its Animal Law Enforcement division to answer the call At the scene, the officer discovered that the injured dog was actually a stuffed animal mistaken for a pet in needThe Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region is open to rescuing animals of every stripe, even stuffed animals. According to a May 25 Facebook post from the Colorado organization, the shelter's Animal Law Enforcement division recently received an urgent call for help. "A panicked Good Samaritan had seen what they were certain was a poor, injured black and white dog lying on the side of the road while they were driving," the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region wrote in its post about the content of the call. In response to the citizen's concern, the shelter sent Officer Jones of Animal Law Enforcement to address the call. "When she got to the scene, she saw the 'dog' in question. Except it… It wasn't a dog," the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region detailed on Facebook. "It wasn't injured. It wasn't... alive. It was a tiger." Thankfully, Officer Jones didn't encounter a dead tiger. Instead of an injured dog, she found "a stuffed tiger, like the kind you win at a carnival if you're good at tossing rings or bribing the teenager in charge." Somehow, someone's discarded tiger toy ended up on the side of the road, where the Good Samaritan mistook it for an injured, living animal. "Not one to leave a civilian (or polyester blend) in danger, Jones did what any hero would do: scooped up the floofy beast and gently placed him in the back of her truck to make sure no one else mistook him for a puppy in peril," the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region wrote of what happended next. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The shelter's Facebook post about the amusing incident also included photos of the rescued "tiger." In the shots, the white stuffed animal with black stripes is shown in the grass where Officer Jones found it and safely packed away in a dog crate. The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region's case of mistaken identity inspired numerous comical comments on Facebook. "I'm interested in adopting. Do I need a special enclosure?" joked one commenter. "That is the world's ugliest stuffed tiger! Lol. Good save tho. That's funny," shared another. Others chimed in with their own humorous mistaken animal identity experiences. "I tried to rescue a toy grenade out of the road thinking it was a turtle. It happens," one commenter shared, while another wrote, "I love this!!! Almost as good as the time I tried to coax an injured, sickly German Shepherd into my VW Beetle late at night only to find out the next morning from my neighbor that it was actually a coyote. Oops!" The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region closed its viral Facebook post about the incident by thanking Officer Jones for "saving our Oscar-worthy tiger and giving us a good chuckle this week!" Read the original article on People
Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- Miami Herald
‘Panicked' driver reports injured dog along road — but it wasn't what it seemed
A panicked driver called a humane society to report an injured dog on the side of a road in Colorado, officials said. But it turns out the situation was not as dire as it seemed, the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region said in a May 25 post on Facebook. 'This week at Animal Law Enforcement started like any other: with coffee, clipboards, and someone trying to microwave fish again (whoever you are, stop it),' the organization quipped in the post. 'Then … THE CALL came in. A panicked Good Samaritan had seen what they were certain was a poor, injured black and white dog lying on the side of the road while they were driving.' The shelter took the call seriously. 'Without hesitation, Officer Jones sprang into action. Truck in drive. Sunglasses on. Radio blaring the Mission: Impossible theme (probably),' the organization said. Then when the officer got to the location, 'she saw the 'dog' in question,' officials said. 'Except it … It wasn't a dog. It wasn't injured. It wasn't … alive,' the organization said. 'It was a tiger. A stuffed tiger. Like the kind you win at a carnival if you're good at tossing rings or bribing the teenager in charge.' Photos show the stuffed white tiger lying in some grass on the side of the road. From a glance, it really could look like some kind of funky-colored dog. 'Not one to leave a civilian (or polyester blend) in danger, Jones did what any hero would do: scooped up the floofy beast and gently placed him in the back of her truck to make sure no one else mistook him for a puppy in peril,' officials said. 'Thank you to Officer Jones for saving our Oscar-worthy tiger and giving us a good chuckle this week!' Several people joked in the comments about the silly scenario. 'When will he be available?' someone asked. 'Hope to see him on the adoption floor soon.' 'Thank goodness he's safe,' someone else said under the photo of the stuffed tiger in the dog kennel in the back of Jones' truck. 'I hope he finds a good forever home soon.'
Miami Herald
02-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Shiba Inu with a ‘heartbreaking' past is now learning to trust. She needs a home
A sweet pup was rescued from a horrifying animal abuse case, and now she's in need of a loving home with a human she can trust. BethAnn, a Shiba Inu, was subjected to unimaginable cruelty with a pack of other dogs, until the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Philadelphia stepped into the picture. 'BethAnn's life before rescue was nothing short of heartbreaking,' the shelter said in a May 2 Facebook post. 'Her days were spent confined to a raised cage, surrounded by filth and excrement. And her eye, badly deformed from a condition left untreated for far too long, became a constant source of pain. 'But everything changed the day our Animal Law Enforcement team arrived.' Nothing could have prepared the team for what was discovered. 'Acting on a tip from the dog warden, in less than 24 hours our officers served a warrant at an illegal kennel in Snyder County,' the shelter continued. 'What they found was devastating: multiple Shiba Inus, like BethAnn, and poodle-type mixes, all living in deplorable conditions. Some were injured. Most were terrified. None had known real care or compassion.' The 6-year-old pup was taken in by the rescue along with the other dogs. 'Once at our Philadelphia headquarters, our veterinary team gave them all the medical attention they needed. After careful evaluation, they made the difficult decision to surgically remove BethAnn's damaged eye,' the shelter said. 'Each day since, she has taken one small step forward. She's beginning to trust again and to learn that life can be kind. Now, she's ready for her next chapter — a forever home.' According to her pet profile, BethAnn is a shy but sweet girl once she gets to know people. She's a fan of being outdoors and gets along with 'dog-savvy kids and other pups.' For more information, visit the shelter's website.
Miami Herald
18-04-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Owner let dog suffer when euthanization was denied. Now shelter has him on mend
A dog in Philadelphia has been given a second chance to lead a good life — free of suffering — during his golden years after he was rescued. Thanks to concerned citizens, law enforcement and a shelter, sweet Nico will soon be on the hunt for a new home. 'It is heartbreaking to see senior animals in shelters. These animals have long loved their families, but when they need that love in return and a little extra help, they are too often discarded in a shelter,' the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said in an April 18 Facebook post. 'For 12-year-old German Shepherd Nico, the situation was more complicated.' It was apparent to shelter workers and officials that the senior dog had lived a hard life when they stepped in. 'Just recently, our Animal Law Enforcement received a call from a concerned citizen about a dog in the backyard of a home in Lehigh County. They reported that the dog appeared to be missing hair and had eye issues. Our officer responsible for that county responded to the property. That's when we met Nico,' the shelter said. 'Nico's owner explained they had attempted to have Nico euthanized, but were informed a veterinary exam was required first. Without the finances, they had left him to linger for what we believe were months. Rather than providing necessary care, they allowed him to suffer.' While what the owner said was concerning, Nico had more issues plaguing his already weakened body. 'The officer was told Nico had difficulty walking, was losing hair, and was very itchy,' the shelter said. 'However, our officer noticed more concerning issues – severely overgrown nails, crusting and flaking skin, inflamed paw pads, and an odor of infection. Nico's skin had thickened and become leathery, something that hadn't happened overnight.' The shelter noted that Nico was taken to the shelter hospital in Philadelphia where they were able to put him on a path to get healthy. 'He immediately began receiving multiple medications to combat infection and alleviate pain. He also receives gentle therapeutic baths to soothe his skin and, perhaps most importantly, experienced love and kindness for the first time in a long while,' the shelter said. 'We are hopeful for his full recovery, and while certain aspects of his body will never return to those of his younger days, he deserves to spend whatever time he has remaining in a forever home.' While he's not up for adoption just yet, those who are interested in taking him in are urged to visit the shelter's website or contact it.
