TYLER, Texas — Dog dumping is on the rise across East Texas as the hot summer months continue and animal advocates say they always see more cases around this time of year. The issue has rescuers working overtime while animal shelters are at capacity.
"Dolly was found on the side of the road, skin and bones, off of Highway 747," dog owner Scott Brewer said.
Scott Brewer and his dog Dolly are the best of friends. She was rescued and nurtured back to health by the nonprofit Angel Paws Advocates, which is just one of the rescue groups working to combat the dumping issue.
"This is an issue that is critical for our community, in addition to being a terrible experience for the animal itself. This creates a lot of issues for our community in terms of traffic, disease control, pet overpopulation," SPCA of East Texas Executive Director Emily Heglund said.
"I see it quite a bit by my house, I live on the lake and people would come down to the beach area and drop their dogs off," Brewer said.
Heglund said they get calls everyday about dogs being dropped off and left to fend for themselves.
"Educating people and having them understand the impact of that and practice and the way that it affects people in the neighborhood, people in the community, the animals themselves," Heglund said.
Brewer added that the dumping of dogs is a very sad situation because the dogs are unaware of their surroundings.
"The dogs don't know why they're there. They're used to being home somewhere and I just couldn't imagine having to drop this sweetheart off," Brewer said.
According to Smith Country Animal Control, abandoning a dog is a state felony that carries a possible prison sentence of up to two years.
"The community can come together and find the resources to help those folks," Heglund said.
If you come in contact with any dogs that have been dumped on the front porch or the side of the road, you can help.
People are encouraged to contact their local animal control or rescue shelters. Those wanting to keep the dogs should make sure to take them to a local vet clinic to get them up to date with vaccines.