LARGO, Md. — Two heartbreaking incidents of dogs apparently dumped by owners in bitter temperatures have been reported in the Maryland suburbs as animal services workers report the cold snap has magnified a population crisis at animal shelters.
Uber driver Paty Hernandez called 911 around 7 p.m. Monday after witnessing a man tie a dog to a parking baluster outside the Lowe's store in the 104000 block of Campus Way in Largo.
Hernandez said the man walked away and never returned.
“The problem is it was very, very cold yesterday at night. It's very sad," Hernandez said.
Hernandez photographed a Prince George's County Sheriff's deputy responding to the incident.
A spokesperson for Prince George's County Animal Services Division reported Tuesday that the dog is now at the shelter and safe. The animal did not have a chip or any other identification. It will be held for five days in hopes that an owner comes forward to claim the dog. After that, the agency hopes to pursue the possibility of adoption.
Meanwhile, Maryland-National Capital Park Police in Montgomery County reported the discovery of an emaciated Mastiff wandering in the snowy cold in Lake Needwood Park Monday evening.
"He’s very thin and appears to have been outside for a while, but he is very friendly," the agency reported in a tweet.
The dog was taken to Montgomery County's Animal Services Shelter and Adoption Center where it was vaccinated and examined by a veterinarian Tuesday, according to Maria Anselmo, who speaks for the agency.
Anselmo said shelter workers have named the Mastiff Conan.
She said Conan has open sores and is significantly underweight, but otherwise appears in good condition. The dog had no electronic chip or tags to identify it.
Anselmo is hopeful an owner will come forward.
The cold snap is making a population crisis at area shelters worse, Anselmo explained.
“We do get a lot more calls because people don’t worry so much if they see a dog out in the backyard for an hour and its 45 degrees or 70 and sunny but when they see a dog out for hours and its 18 degrees that’s not OK," she said.
Anselmo said shelters are already overwhelmed with large dogs like Conan because more owners are running into housing and economic problems forcing them to give up their bigger animals.
As a result, Montgomery County Animal Services is urging people considering surrendering large dogs to look for alternatives such and friends, family members, or rescue organizations willing to take the dog before coming to a shelter.
Due to overcrowding, the agency has declared an "essential intake policy" where authorities reserve the right to refuse to take a large dog surrender unless it is critically ill, in danger, or there are no other options, according to an announcement on its website.
In addition Montgomery County Animal Services has announced that due to the current population crisis, all adoption fees for all animals are waived "until further notice."