Puppy found abandoned inside portable toilet at California Borough park
Courtesy of California Borough Police Department
A puppy abandoned by its owner was found tethered inside a portable toilet in a California Borough park on Christmas Day.
A person visiting Rotary Park about 2 p.m. Wednesday apparently entered one of the portable toilets and found the dog tied to the inside door handle by its leash, California police Chief Jim Smith said.
The person visited the police station Wednesday afternoon to notify officers about the situation, and police contacted the borough’s animal control officer to take care of the puppy, Smith said.
The male puppy, which Smith estimated is less than 12 weeks old, did not have tags or a microchip to help them identify the owner.
Smith said the dog was likely inside the portable toilet for only an hour or so since his police officers regularly patrol around Rotary Park and would have noticed unusual activity. He added that the animal appeared to be in good condition despite being abandoned.
“It’s unfortunate. This time of the year, people get puppies and can’t care for them,” Smith theorized about the dog possibly being a Christmas present before the owner had second thoughts.
He said police would file charges against the owner if that person is located since the animal was simply abandoned rather than surrendered to a shelter, where it could be cared for and adopted.
“If we locate the person who abandoned the dog, charges will be filed,” Smith said.
The police department shared a photo of the dog on its Facebook page announcing that officers were looking for the owner, and the post elicited dozens of reactions and comments from people asking to adopt the puppy.
But for now, the animal is in the custody of the borough’s animal control officer and will eventually be taken to a local shelter to receive proper vaccinations and be microchipped for future identification purposes. Smith said once that is all completed, the animal will likely be put up for adoption.