NEW BEDFORD, MASS. (WHDH) - A woman and child are facing animal cruelty charges after police say a video circulated showing them abandoning a dog in New Bedford last month.
On June 12, animal control officers said they received reports of a video circulating on social media that showed the dog getting left behind in the town’s south end sector, according to a release issued by the department.
Victor Rodriguez’s Ring doorbell camera captured the scene that morning. Rodriguez shared the video on social media because he said he was concerned for the dog’s welfare.
“I was freaking out in the head,” he said. “I don’t think it’s fair to just have a dog be left by itself, on a busy street like this, it could get hit by a car.”
The dog was rescued and officers said it appeared to be in good health.
On Monday, Rodriguez said one of the dog owners returned with the pup and confronted him about the video.
“She was very hostile about it,” he said. “She tried saying she left the dog to poop and then drove off, and then he was going to make it home. She told the dog, ‘take care buddy.’ No way she was just leaving the dog there to poop, makes no sense. ‘I wouldn’t do that.”
The child is facing an additional charge for witness intimidation.
No further details were made available.
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