Abusive dog owner caught in the act — German shepherd rescued by bystander
Dog abuse comes in many forms, including physical harm. In many cases, abusers carry out their acts of animal cruelty in private. But sometimes these acts happen out in the open for all to see. That was what happened with a one-year-old German shepherd mix, named Maverick.
Police are called to the scene of animal abuse
Police in Bellingham, Washington, were called to the scene of animal abuse. Witnesses reported that a 55-year-old man was seen kicking, dragging, and yelling at Maverick. Toward the end of the abuse, the man stomped on Maverick’s paw.
A witness stepped in to help Maverick
At this point, a witness stepped in and took possession of the dog from the man before calling 911. Police arrived and were able to take possession of Maverick until he could be taken in for treatment. As for the suspect, police issued a citation for second-degree animal cruelty for the abuse he inflicted on poor Maverick.
Maverick was treated for his injuries
Maverick was taken to the Whatcom Humane Society after receiving treatment for his injuries. An official with the Humane Society commented on how the organization sees an uptick in animal cruelty cases as the weather gets warmer.
“Usually as the weather warms up, our call volume increases as does the number of overall animals received,” Whatcom Humane Society Director Laura Clark told The Bellingham Herald.
Maverick could still end up back with his abusive owner
Unfortunately, there is still a chance that Maverick’s abusive owner could still regain custody of him if he is found not guilty of the charges. A petition has been started demanding that Maverick not be returned to his owner and that the owner be punished to the fullest extent of the law for his crimes if found guilty.
You can visit the Animal Petitions Website to sign the petition.
The Whatcom Humane Society
The Whatcom Humane Society, which is caring for Maverick, serves the Whatcom County, Washington area, including Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale, Sumas, and Everson. In addition to providing for all of the animals, both wild and domestic, in the county, the organization also offers spaying and neutering services, low-cost microchipping, and adoptions, among other services.
For more info on the Whatcom Humane Society, you can visit the organization’s Website or Facebook page.
If you notice animal abuse, notify your local animal control or police department. Make sure to get the abuser’s name, if you can, as well as the time, date, location, and the type of abuse that occurred. You should also take photos or videos of the abuse for use as evidence.
The video below has more on what you can do to help put a stop to animal abuse in your community.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.