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Case ID: 16744

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (non pit-bull)

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Seven puppies abandoned near park
West Palm Beach, FL (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Oct 1, 2010
County: Palm Beach

Disposition: Open
Case Images: 3 files available

Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

For Sean Sandell, a routine morning ride with his dog past Gettler Park became a rescue effort.

"I heard some dogs yelping and looked over my shoulder, and there was three puppies underneath the Dumpster right behind us," said Sandell.

He returned minutes later with a carrier, finding more neighbors on the scene, and more puppies.

"Four of them were actually sleeping down by Winston in the park at the bench," said Mark VanVolkenburg, a concerned neighbor.

"They're beautiful little puppies. I don't know how, I couldn't leave them. I saw them there and I knew I had to try to do something," said Sandell.

The puppies number seven in total, all mixed breed females, and appear to be in perfect health.

"This is a problem, in our community and communities everywhere. People just not being able to afford them or not being educated enough to know what to do if they can't," said VanVolkenburg's wife, Lori Bishop.

Whether a sign of the times, or simple callousness, VanVolkenburg believes abandoning puppies to die is irresponsible.

"There's no excuse for that, with all of the help that's available," said VanVolkenburg.

Bishop was just happy to help make sure the puppies were taken care of by people truly motivated by good intentions.

"Cause they're so loving and they have a lot to give to someone," said Bishop. "It's unfortunate, with the economy, we see it at the clinic right now, we see it everyday at the shelter.

People losing their homes having to move out of the state, and they can't take their pets," said Taylor Roca, the Operations Manager for Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary.

The puppies will be taken to Safe Harbor, where they will receive a check-up and some vaccinations. They will be available for adoption in about three weeks.

References

• « FL State Animal Cruelty Map
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