Dumped Puppies Big Problem For Hope For Paws And Hope Animal Control

By Mark Keith, 03/22/19 10:51 AM

As the weather warms up, an animal problem comes along with it. Jo Ann Sandlin of Hope for Paws and Tammy Austin of the Hope Office of Animal Control say they are both seeing increases in dumped puppies
Sandlin says Hope for Paws has rescued 19 dumped puppies so far in March and in February over 25 dumped puppies were rescued. She says most of these puppies won’t survive, falling victim to such predators as coyotes and ferrel hogs. Sandlin says even if they survive these predators they starve because there’s no food.
Austin says they have seen a significant amount of dumped puppies in the city. She also notes people are bringing in puppies saying they were found in the city. Austin says the puppies “need to be cared for, they need their vaccinations, they need to be wormed, a lot of puppies are coming up with mange, it’s parvo season…we’re doing the best we can with the volume of puppies we’re getting in”. She also detailed how she’s been spending time at one of the I-30 on ramps trying to catch some dumped puppies. She’s caught two but is trying to catch one that has apparently been hit and has what appears to be a broken leg.
Both Austin and Sandlin urge pet owners to spay or neuter their dogs to help prevent more unwanted puppies being born.
Austin reminds residents not only is dumping puppies wrong but it is also a crime. She noted that she has written tickets for dumped puppies under the animal cruelty laws and will do so again of she has evidence of persons dumping puppies in the city limits.
The pictures accompanying this article feature two of the dumped puppies available at the Hope Animal Shelter. If you’re interested in adopting one of these sweet puppies, stop by the Animal Control Facility on Jones Street at the Fair Park Gate. You can also follow Hope for Paws-Hope, Arkansas and Hope Animal Shelter Hope, Arkansas on facebook to see more dogs that need forever homes.