TAMPA, Fla. — The Human Society of Tampa Bay (HSTB) said three dogs were dropped off at the shelter after they were found abandoned near a gas station in Lutz.
Ben Moehnert, a Senior Medical Services Manager at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, said the dogs did not have a collar or microchip.
"Two younger ladies were at a gas station. They saw two stray dogs running that looked very skinny and emaciated so they went to try to catch them and then in the woods, they found a female dog that was emaciated, not able to stand up, not able to walk so they came right into us for help," he said.
The Humane Society said the three pointer-hound mixes were located in the woods behind Blessings gas station on US 41.
Staff at the shelter named the older dog Blessing. She tested positive for parvovirus and was unable to walk or lift her head.
Moehnert said she has a 50% chance of surival.
The female dog, the older one is positive for parvovirus. She'll need care and with parvo we’re having to do hospitalization, fluids, injections, antibiotics, and then scheduled feedings to slowly get her back up to weight. The two males were negative for parvo," he said.
Humane Society officals are urging people to never dump animals. It is illegal and there are always other options.
"People think they have no options. The pets are either sick or they can’t take care of them and they’ll just abandon them. I would want everybody to know is if you need any help with your pets, you can always call us," said Moehnert.
A $5,750 reward is being offered for any information that leads to the arrest of the person responsible. Actor and animal advocate Dave Bautista contributed money as well as an anonymous donor.
If you have information about these dogs or their previous owner, send it to communications@humanesocietytampa.org or call 813-744-5660.
“We give people that opportunity to really learn those lessons from the holocaust, to hear from survivors, to be able to see physical evidence.”
Tampa Bay 28 reporter Casey Albritton visited the soon-to-be reopened Florida Holocaust Museum
