Puppy dumped at roadside Salinas, CA (US) Incident Date: Sunday, Jul 1, 2007 County: Monterey Local Map: available Disposition: Open Charges: Misdemeanor Case Images: 1 files available Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Case ID: 11700 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in CA (US) Reward: $1,000 Login to Watch this Case

A man who works with human trauma victims said he was stunned when he saw a couple stop and discard a puppy from a car as they drove near the Salinas Municipal Airport on Sunday.

"Leaving a puppy by the side of the road - that's crazy," said Chris Crandall, a Seaside resident who works for the California Shock Trauma Air Rescue (Cal STAR) team based at the Salinas airport.

Crandall said he picked up the puppy before it could wander into traffic on Mortensen Avenue and took it the next day to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Monterey County.

The SPCA is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people who abandoned the shepherd-mix puppy. Abandoning any animal is a misdemeanor that can lead to arrest or a fine.

The SPCA named the male puppy "Pilot," because he was found near an airport hangar.

Crandall said he saw a man and woman, who appeared to be in their mid-20s and who were riding in a white Ford Mustang convertible, stop and leave the 4-month-old puppy.

"They have to understand first of all, it is cruel, and it's against the law (to abandon an animal)," Crandall said. "If they don't want the dog, just take it to the SPCA."

This is the third time in the past six weeks an animal has been abandoned by the side of a road, said Beth Brookhouser director of community outreach for the SPCA of Monterey County.

On May 24, two puppies were left in a box on the side of Highway 68 during rush hour.

"A person had taken the time to write all over the box," Brookhouser said. "They wrote the names of the puppies and apologized for abandoning them."

In mid-June, two kittens were left in a tied black garbage bag by the side of Del Monte Avenue in Marina, she said.

The people who found the bag said they looked inside when it started moving. In both incidents, witnesses couldn't provide enough information for authorities to find the perpetrator, Brookhouser said.

This year alone, more than 1,000 cats, kittens, dogs and puppies have so far been surrendered to the SPCA of Monterey County.

The summer months usually bring a higher level of strays because people often move away or go on vacation, according to the SPCA Web site. In July of last year, the SPCA of Monterey County received 269 animals.

Brookhouser said anyone who witnesses an animal being abandoned should take note of the license number, make and model of any vehicle involved. A description of the person also is helpful.

Anyone with information regarding Pilot's abandonment is asked to call the SPCA at 422-4721. Pilot will be ready for adoption in two weeks. Anyone can call the SPCA for an application to adopt Pilot.

"(The dog) didn't give us any issues," during the time it spent at his office and house, Crandall said. "It will make somebody a good little puppy."

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References

The Californian - July 6, 2007

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