Police Rescue 6 Dogs Left Out In Cold In Lincoln-Lemington
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Pittsburgh Police rescued six dogs that were left chained up out in the cold in the city's Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood Thursday.
It's a home police have been called to before.
"We're quite familiar with these people," said Animal Friends' Chief Humane Officer Kathy Hecker.
Two adult dogs and four puppies, wearing heavy chains, were spotted on the hillside in the 6000-block of Apple Street.
"There was no food, no water, insufficient shelter," said Hecker. "We just checked the temperature and it is 4 degrees, and it is expected to go down."
Not only were the dogs left in the cold, humane officers suspect they have been used for dog fighting.
"They do have some wounds from some sort of encounter with other dogs, dog fighting it looks like," said Dan Rossi, the executive director of the Animal Rescue League.
The only good news is they seem to be reasonably healthy and of normal weight. But it could have been a much different story.
"Subzero temperatures without heat, water, nutrition, we are talking a matter of hours," said Rossi.
The dogs will be held at an undisclosed location until there is a court date.
"There will be many charges filed," added Hecker.
The owner will likely face neglect and animal cruelty charges, as well as forfeiture of all animals and prohibition of animal ownership in the future.
"We will fight to keep these dogs in our custody," said Hecker. "With every citation when there is circumstances like this, you don't leave a skinny puppy out like this when the wind chill factor is below zero."
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