DETROIT – With our temperatures on the colder side, dog advocates have warned owners about bringing their pets inside.
On Tuesday (Jan. 22), a puppy was intentionally left outside a rescue on Grand River Avenue on Detroit’s west side in single-digit temperatures.
So many are asking why and how you could do such a thing to a living and breathing animal.
“She’s so skinny, and she’s so tiny,” said Detroit Dog Rescue Executive Kristina Rinaldi. “We weren’t open. And we’re really lucky she was alive.”
Rinaldi is just happy the little girl is still alive after being abandoned and left outside in below-freezing temperatures.
“This was just careless,” Rinaldi said. “There was no call. There was no knock on the door. They just kind of left the dog at the end of the corridor in eight-degree weather.”
It’s unclear why a man driving a white SUV thought his only option was to leave the puppy outside the rescue. The results, however, could have been deadly.
“So often, unfortunately, dogs are left in crates, and animal shelter workers get there too late, and that’s even happened at Detroit Dog Rescue, where we’ve discovered dead dogs in crates left at our door,” Rinaldi said.
Rescuers are now calling the puppy “Hope” as a symbol for the fight that ensures other dogs can avoid a similar situation.
“Despite what people have done to her, she loves humans, and obviously, she loves to come to cuddle up,” Rinaldi said. “She’s been very spoiled by all of the volunteers here at Detroit Dog Rescue.”
As for whoever dropped her off, Rinaldi wants to talk to him.
“Whoever dumped this puppy, we still want to talk to you,” Rinaldi said. “A police report was filed, but we still want to talk. I want to see what’s going on and see how we can stop this from happening in the city of Detroit.”
Local 4 wants to remind you that this is an offense that can definitely lead to charges. But if there was a silver lining, It’s that Hope will soon be up for adoption.