On the evening of August 15th, 2020, someone in Colombia loaded their dog into their car and hit the road. Then, they opened the door and let the dog out in the middle of the street in Fontibón, Bogotá. The dog, confused, watched with sad eyes as who he saw as his family began to drive away.
Bystanders whistled at the driver, trying to get his attention. The man either didn’t hear or pretended not to hear. He cruelly continued to drive off without his dog. But the dog left behind still didn’t understand what was happening. He started to trot after the car. Even after the car turned a corner and just kept going. The dog ran after it for as long as he could. After the person who abandoned him.
Colombia Oscura shared the video of the devastating scene on Twitter, referring to the driver as “heartless”:
(English Translation) “Community rebuilds and asks the authorities to look for a heartless man who, on the night of August 15, abandoned a little dog on a street in the town of Fontibón, Bogotá.”
The impact of the novel coronavirus has led to many animal surrenders from people who lost their jobs and homes. Most seem to agree though, that what this person did absolutely was not right.
If you have the stomach for it, the original video is below.
(WARNING: The following footage shows abandonment and cruelty which may be upsetting to certain viewers.)
#URGENTE. Comunidad recahaza y pide a las autoridades que busquen a desalmado sujeto que en la noche del pasado 15 de agosto, abandonó a un perrito en una calle de la localidad de Fontibón, Bogotá.@PoliciaColombia @PoliciaBogota @AnimalesBOG @juliherrerap @MONYRODRIGUEZOF pic.twitter.com/glLX7ZIxZv
— Colombia Oscura (@ColombiaOscura) August 17, 2020
Abandoning A Dog Is Never The Answer
Sure, raising a dog is hard. It takes a lot of work and a lot of love, and sometimes a fair amount of money. As dog parents, we know that all of that pales in comparison to the joy they bring us every day. But for some, having a dog just isn’t possible.
However, several options exist when it comes to rehoming a dog. There is no reason to simply abandon them on the street. Not only could they get hit by a car, a domestically-raised dog probably doesn’t have the skills to survive out there.
If you find yourself unable to care for your dog, contact your city’s municipal shelters (and if you don’t know how to, try dialing 311/your country’s non-emergency information line!) Even more preferable would be to contact non-profit rescue groups or rescues that work with specific breeds. This will give your dog a better chance at finding a new home. Try listing your animal for rehoming on Petfinder instead of an unverified website like Craigslist.
NEVER chain or tie your dog up somewhere that would limit their mobility, keep them from escaping, or prevent them from being discovered. Trust me, someone out there wants to help you and your dog. If you witness an act of animal cruelty, gather sufficient evidence before contacting the proper authorities.
H/T: Unilad
Featured Image: @ColombiaOscura/Twitter
Toledo, United States.
