The owners of the pets who were abandoned as Hurricane Irma approached Florida could face felony charges, according to the state's office of animal control.
Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control officers rescued 49 dogs in the days before the storm hit, all of whom were left outside to fend for themselves.
'This is a prime example of animal cruelty,' Palm Beach County state prosecutor Dave Aronberg told the New York Post.
'We will find you, and we will prosecute you.'
Many of the animals rescued prior to Irma's arrival were tied to poles or left outside in pens, authorities explained.
'There is absolutely no excuse for doing that,' agency director Dianne Suave told the Post. She and Aronberg have vowed to come down hard on the animal owners.
Both have said they intend to file felony prosecutions against anyone who left their dogs outside during the storm, provided that they can gather enough evidence against those individuals. The pair are also asking anyone who can to consider sheltering the animals they come across who were left out in the storm.
In addition to the pets rescued by the agency, Animal Care and Control also took in roughly 40 cats and dogs who were given up by their owners due to the impending storm.
'It's critical for pet owners to consider their animals when preparing for any disaster, and we strongly urge them to always bring their animals with them if they have to evacuate their home,' ASPCA Vice President Tim Rickey said in a statement.
Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control officers rescued 49 dogs in the days before the storm hit, all of whom were left outside to fend for themselves.
'This is a prime example of animal cruelty,' Palm Beach County state prosecutor Dave Aronberg told the New York Post.
'We will find you, and we will prosecute you.'
Many of the animals rescued prior to Irma's arrival were tied to poles or left outside in pens, authorities explained.
'There is absolutely no excuse for doing that,' agency director Dianne Suave told the Post. She and Aronberg have vowed to come down hard on the animal owners.
Both have said they intend to file felony prosecutions against anyone who left their dogs outside during the storm, provided that they can gather enough evidence against those individuals. The pair are also asking anyone who can to consider sheltering the animals they come across who were left out in the storm.
In addition to the pets rescued by the agency, Animal Care and Control also took in roughly 40 cats and dogs who were given up by their owners due to the impending storm.
'It's critical for pet owners to consider their animals when preparing for any disaster, and we strongly urge them to always bring their animals with them if they have to evacuate their home,' ASPCA Vice President Tim Rickey said in a statement.
So called owners leaving their pets behind tied to trees and posts...How damn disgusting. The pet has no chance with rising water tied to a post or tree.
I hope that the authorities prosecute all of them.
I saw a video clip of a Sheriff in Texas that warned everyone that left their pet behind that he would find them and prosecute them. He was very angry and I'm sure that he meant every word of it.
If you can spare a dollar or two, any amount will help, donate to the Humane Society or any animal care group.
It's not only cats and dogs, but horses, cattle and many other animals that need help and there are a lot of good people out their doing their best to help...Give them a hand.
Yeah, how anybody could leave their pets behind while they flee is beyond me. They deserve whatever punishment is meted out IMO.
I agree and hope as you do that they are punished to the full extent of the law.
It's easy to judge.....people do it all day through Sunday. I ain't been there nor done that. There is so much judging going on we don't even need a court of law.
Keep on with your mightier than thou attitude until you are faced with a decision that few will approve.!!!!!!!!
Is there ever a decision before a hurricane hits that involves you leaving your dog leashed to a tree or otherwise left outside while you yourself flee the potentially catastrophic event?
I would never leave my dog leased to a tree in my wildest imagination. However, I wasn't part of the extreme circumstance that prevailed and I won't make judgments. Leave that to the mightier than art group!
That group under these circumstances is comprised of anybody with a conscience.
The mightier then thou group is the LAW and people with a conscious magnoliaave.
I've been wondering what these people have been doing about their cats. Cats can be a bitch to travel with. Last year's hurricane near Jacksonville brought my daughter and her kids and pets to us as refugees, and it included 3 cats.
Now she has added 13 chickens to the brood. I told her she's going to have to leave the chickens if she comes again. They decided to tough it out, and got lucky with no significant wind or flood damage.
No, it's not just about dogs as I mentioned in my first comment Hal.
If a person is going to have a pet, then they are responsible for that pet and leaving them behind in the face of a hurricane isn't responsible or having a conscious
It's as simple as that for me.
People abuse animals every day even when there is no hurricane. 40 such cases seems like an expected amount under the circumstances.
I guess by an expected amount, we have to consider the assholes that have no conscious as part of our society...It might have been better if we tied them to a tree or pole and let them ''tough'' it out.
I would tend to agree Kavika.
I can't wrap my head around the fact that people actually left their pets there to die!
When one choses to take in a pet, it's almost the same as deciding to have a baby. Our pets become a part of the family. This mind-set of just abandoning a pet is is disgusting beyond belief!!!
I completely agree Nona.
I kind of thought you would kav!!
I think it's disgusting to leave a pet behind. It's almost like leaving a child behind. I've been in 3 hurricanes and we always took our pets.
I agree sister.
I totally agree, Perrie. In fact, if it came down to one of us being left behind, I'd send my Yoda Girl to safety and stay behind, as I would likely stand a better chance of surviving than she would left all alone.