CONNECTICUT, USA — Two dogs tied to a pole in Manchester, a dog abandoned and hit by a car in Canton, two kittens thrown from a moving car in Naugatuck – Those are just a few of the animals found abandoned in Connecticut in recent weeks.
Animal rights group Desmond’s Army works to bring justice to abused animals. The group is now offering a $5,000 award in the latest abandonment case out of Avon. Officials said a Lasa Apso dog was thrown from a blue SUV on West Avon Road, leading to injuries.
Desmond's Army's reward is for anyone who has information leading to an arrest in that case.
"These animals are your responsibility, the owner's responsibility. That is no way to take responsibility," said Linda Pleva, the vice president of Desmond's Army. "That is just horrible, ridiculous, cruel to an animal, and there is no need for [the] vicious intentional harm".
James Bias of the Connecticut Humane Society said there are many reasons people abandon their pets, but recently, inflation has played a large part.
"The cost of pet ownership is skyrocketing - whether its wellness care trying to comply with rabies vaccines to minor medical issues," Bias explained.
Bias said the price of pet food alone can cause hardship, which may be part of the reason for this uptick in animal abandonment cases.
Bias and Pleva also said that people returning to the office after the pandemic also played a role. But, there is no excuse for animal cruelty which is considered a crime in Connecticut.
"Recognizing that that abandonment will put you on the receiving end of a crime but that will not have a positive outcome for your pet in many instances," Bias said.
He encourages voting for local officials who prioritize pet care at local shelters, which is an important way to help combat and curb these kinds of animal cruelty cases.
The Connecticut Humane Society has resources to help you if you find yourself struggling to take care of a family pet and need assistance. You can also contact the shelter to see if you can re-home the animal.
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Alexa Farrell is a reporter for FOX61 News. She can be reached at afarrell@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
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