Husky puppy found in grocery bag
Santa Cruz, CA (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Feb 13, 2007
County: Santa Cruz
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Jay L. June
An 8-week-old husky pup is being treated at a veterinary hospital in Santa Cruz, California, after an animal control officer rescued him on Tuesday, February 13.
The officer discovered the puppy in a plastic grocery bag at a local homeless camp, according to Todd Stosuy, animal control manager for county Animal Services Authority. The dog, barely old enough to be away from its mother, had been living in a cardboard beer case at the camp, Stosuy said.
"It could barely stand on it's own," Stosuy said.
The dog's apparent guardian, a transient man in his forties, was swinging the dog around in the bag when the officer arrived, according to Stosuy.
He added that animal control officers are working with the District Attorney's Office to press animal neglect and cruelty charges against the man. The pup was malnourished, dehydrated and suffering from an intestinal infection but is expected to survive.
If convicted, the unidentified man could be fined and/or kept from keeping animals for a specified period.
Officials are also investigating another report that the man swung a cat around in a bag about two weeks ago, Stosuy said.
He said animal abuse in the area is not very common.
"Normally in Santa Cruz County people treat their animals fairly humanely," he said.
He added they might name the Husky puppy "Lucky," and that he will be neutered and put up for adoption after he recovers. References |
