Pit Bull Tied to Highway Mile Marker, Abandoned

A dog owner abandoned a 2-year-old female pit bull near the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Tuesday afternoon.

The gray and white dog was leasehd to a mile maker post on Highway 152 with a belt and a prong collar, according to the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter.

The dog had no identification tags or microchip and was abandoned without shelter, food or water, though a passerby left the abandoned dog a bowl of water, according to Animal Shelter officials.

This constitutes willful abandonment of animal under to California state law.

The Santa Cruz County animal shelters in Santa Cruz and Watsonville are open-admission shelters, meaning that every animal that comes to the door is accepted. 

"We are a resource for the community as a safe haven for animals," Animal Shelter General Manager Melanie Sobel said. "I want the public to know that there is a safe, humane alternative to abandoning animals."

If anyone has any information about this offense, please contact Officer Montes, Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter at 831-454-7248.