Dog Owners Abandon Pet, Tell Rescue They Found a Stray

A 14-year-old senior dog who was abandoned by his Detroit family is in search of a new forever home.

Last Friday, April 11, Detroit Pit Crew Dog Rescue announced through their Facebook account that Duke had been “betrayed by his family.”

According to the organization, Eastpointe Police Animal Control Division was contacted because Duke was reported as a stray. 

When the police animal control department arrived, they noticed the senior dog made several attempts to get into the home where the report came from. 

“Can you imagine not feeling too well and being a 14-year-old senior dog in a home with your family who promised to love and care for you when suddenly they put you outside and called the police animal control department to report you as a stray?” the social media post read.

“And then when an officer arrived and saw you continuing to try to go into your house, the family who you loved dearly denied knowing you,” it continued.

Because Duke had a microchip, Eastpointe Police Animal Control Division was able to determine that he belonged “to the person who reported him as a stray.”

DPCDR said that after hearing his story, they “stepped up to sponsor Duke’s medical care.” After he was taken to a veterinary clinic, they learned he had Lyme disease and “concerning bloodwork.” 

The animal rescue is confident that the canine’s owners will face “serious legal consequences for Duke’s abandonment.”

“At this time, our number one concern is making sure that Duke gets all the medical care he needs to recover so that he will have the opportunity to live in a home with a family that truly loves and cares for him,” they said via Facebook.

In a video update shared by DPCDR on April 12, the organization spoke with Officer Ashley Sanchez with the Eastpointe Police Animal Control Division as she fed an “emaciated” and “quite dehydrated” Duke.

She confirmed that Duke’s microchip led authorities to determine his owner was the caller who reported him as a stray.

“She knowingly abandoned him,” Sanchez said of the owner, adding that Duke “just kept trying to get back to his house.”

“He kept going from his front door, then kept going to the side back gate, just trying to get in his property. He didn’t understand why he was out there,” the officer said. 

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A woman filming Sanchez as she fed Duke added that his owner was “acting like she doesn’t even know him” when the officer arrived at the home.

Sanchez had gone back to her truck to do some digging, and after learning that Duke belonged to the woman, tried to confront her, but instead, his owner acted like a “coward” and “wouldn’t answer the door.”

Sanchez has already spoken with a prosecutor, and the owner will be receiving citations, including falsifying a police report. 

Duke “is improving,” according to the latest update from the DPCDR.