SOUTH ABINGTON TOWNSHIP -- Officials in Lackawanna County are still investigating a case of animal neglect after five puppies were found abandoned in the woods.
The five lab mix puppies were found along an ATV trail off River Street in Scranton on Saturday. Folks who found the puppies took them to Griffin Pond Animal Shelter near Clarks Summit.
Ashley Kane works at the shelter and says when they arrived, all of the puppies had a high fever and were dehydrated.
“It’s very upsetting. We obviously want to be able to find the person who abandoned them. Unfortunately, we see a lot of it and hopefully we can find them,” Kane said.
Now the four-month-old puppies are eating and drinking plenty of water. Four of them are already in the process of being adopted. They still need medical attention but are expected to be ready for their forever homes within a week.
“When it comes to puppies, we can’t keep them in the shelter because everyone wants that cute little puppy. It’s the adult dogs that you have a hard time you know, finding the room for, but puppies can always be adopted,” said humane officer Sandy Scala.
Griffin Pond Animal Shelter is taking in abandoned dogs daily. It’s a troubling trend for those who work there.
“When you took that animal, you took on that responsibility for that pet’s lifetime, so if you're not able to commit with that, then you should not get one to begin with,” said Scala.
Instead of abandoning unwanted animals, officials say you should take your pet to the nearest animal shelter or veterinarian for assistance.
“Don't turn the animal loose. Don't abandon them. That just makes it harder on the pet,” Scala added.
Anyone with more information about who abandoned the puppies is asked to contact the humane officer cruelty investigator in Lackawanna County.
