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A viral video that sparked outrage among animal lovers last week has led to animal cruelty charges against a woman that abandoned her senior dog in a Washington park.
Animal lovers’ hearts were collectively broken when video footage shared across the internet last week showed a woman park her car near the entrance to Orchards Park in Vancouver, Washington before driving off, leaving her dog behind.
After exiting the vehicle with her dog, later revealed to be 13-year old yellow Lab, Henry, the woman entered the park with Henry wagging his tail and walking by her side.
But, just moments after disappearing into the heavily wooded park, the woman is captured on surveillance camera running back to her car, getting in, and driving away, leaving Henry behind.
Thanks to that surveillance footage, Clark County Animal Protection & Control officers were able to locate and cite the woman, whose name has not been released, on charges of animal cruelty for abandoning Henry.
After being identified, the woman officially surrendered the senior dog to animal control. He is now safely in foster care and will soon be available for adoption at the Humane Society for Southwest Washington, Clark County ACP said.
“Abandonment is considered to be animal cruelty,” Susan Anderson with Clark County Animal Protection and Control told KATU “It was her understanding that she had run out of options based on what she had told our investigating officers. She was unable to find a home for him on her own and had run out of options, in her mind.”
Abandoning an animal is NEVER the right choice. Pet owners that need to rehome an animal should contact local shelters, Humane Societies, animal control offices, and network the animal on social media sites until a safe home is found.
Henry’s former owner could be facing a misdemeanor charge or a civil penalty for her act.
