EAST STROUDSBURG -- There has been another case of abandoned dogs in the Poconos. This time dogs were found in two cardboard boxes in East Stroudsburg.
It begs the question: why does this kind of thing keep happening?
The Animal Welfare Society of Monroe County says it has had more than a dozen animals abandoned in shopping centers within the past year, even more left in other places to fend for themselves.
Just why it's happening is a question so many people are asking.
Shaking, scared, but now safe at an animal shelter near Stroudsburg, those four dogs were all found abandoned this weekend.
Shoppers noticed them in cardboard boxes between CVS and Big Lots in East Stroudsburg.
"It`s absolutely heartbreaking. It`s heartbreaking because not only did you dump four dogs, they are frightened out of their minds," said Shelter Supervisor Lisa Pearson.
The Animal Welfare Society of Monroe County says it has taken in at least a dozen animals dumped near shopping centers within the past 12 months.
"They probably are embarrassed to bring them to somebody because then they`re caught, they`re caught. We have their information and we can turn them in," said Shelter Manager Kim Loffio.
The dogs are all cairn terrier mixes and were likely used for breeding.
Each one was severely matted and had ear and eye infections.
"I don`t think they`ve ever had a human touch them, and in the right way. You pick them up and it takes a while for you to pick them up. They shake the whole time," said Pearson.
Property managers are reviewing surveillance video to see if cameras captured just who dumped the dogs, but folks at AWSOM say they also have a few other possible leads.
One box has a sticker from a Weis grocery store, marking paid. The other box is from a company in Brooklyn, New York. Shelter workers believe these dogs were left in a hurry.
"If it`s a situation like a foreclosure or they`re moving out, all you have to do is call us, give us notice, we will help you. This was an emergency, these were dumped," said Pearson.
Animal lovers like Tom Millwater say, these stories are becoming way too common.
"It`s bad, if a person don`t like a dog, they should give it to the ASPCA or whatever they can give it to," said Tom Millwater of Tobyhanna.
AWSOM is asking for anyone with information to come forward.
"Somebody needs to be held accountable, somebody in the community had to see one of these dogs," said Loffio.
The shelter will be holding an open house this weekend with lots of information on how to protect your pets and to raise money to help care for these four dogs.
AWSOM says it will be a while before the dogs are ready for adoption.
For more information, visit their website, www.awsomanimals.org