TAMPA, Florida (WFLA) — The Florida Highway Patrol and Hillsborough County Animal Control are seeking the individual who left a dog in a crate on the side of I-275 on Wednesday.
FHP officers responded to the location after a driver spotted the dog on the northbound lane of 275, near Bearss Avenue.
The dog was abandoned in very poor circumstances.
That animal had no food or water,” said Chelsea Waldeck, the Division Director of the Pet Resounce Center. “Second, I think the heat index is over a hundred again, so that animal, being a black dog in a black crate with no shade, would have experienced extremely serious heat-related health issues,
She mentioned that there is no justification for leaving an animal in such circumstances.
“There are numerous alternatives available if you need to rehome or give up your pet,” Waldeck stated.
She mentioned that they have a team that assists individuals who are struggling with a pet.
“They possess all the resources you might desire when attempting to rehome, or find methods to keep your pet,” Waldeck stated.
Florida enacted the “Troopers Law” last year followingA canine was discovered secured to a fence. during a hurricane.
It is now a criminal offense to leave a pet behind during an official emergency.
Waldeck stated that this scenario is not covered by that law, but they are still seeking details about the individual who left the dog by the roadside.
“If anyone recognizes this dog, perhaps I’ve seen it in my neighborhood or it belongs to my neighbor, animal control wants to know so they can proceed with investigating what occurred,” said Waldeck.
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