Man facing charges for dumping dog at Pittsburgh-area humane society
BUTLER, Pa. (KDKA) — A man will be charged after police said he dumped a dog at the Butler County Humane Society.
The 64-year-old from Karns City was identified after Pennsylvania State Police asked for help finding the two people who were caught on camera pulling up to the humane society in a pick-up truck hauling a trailer around 6 p.m. on Nov. 26. Police said they were seen taking a crate with a dog inside off of the trailer and dumping the crate.
Police said the man left his dog in front of the humane society, where she stayed for about 13 hours until workers showed up the next morning around 7 a.m. The temperatures throughout the evening were around 33 degrees, troopers said.
After receiving several tips, investigators found the 64-year-old and interviewed him on Dec. 13. Police didn't release his name initially but later identified the man as Douglas Fleeger.
The dog was taken in by the humane society and given the name Mercy. State police said Mercy, who was originally named Libby, is still there and is doing well.
Mercy, a 3-year-old shepherd mix, loves to take treats and walk outside, officials said. She can still be a little bit shy, though.
"We had to just kind of go slow with her," said Cari Ciancio, executive director at the Butler County Humane Society.
When Mercy was found, kennel manager Megan Barber told KDKA-TV that she was very scared, nervous and confused. After a bit, the staff said Mercy started to warm up.
Barber said it's hard to grasp why someone would abandon their dog. Ciancio said that the news of the expected charges is "not good news or bad news" before adding that the humane society is just glad it can take care of Mercy.
"There are right ways to do things, certainly," Ciancio said. "And what happened with Mercy was not the right way to do things."
Ciancio said that Mercy is now up for adoption as she recovers from what allegedly was done to her. She says they're going to make sure that the home Mercy ends up in is the right one.
"Our job is to take care of them, but it's also our passion," Ciancio said. "It's what we live for. It's why we work here. We just want her to go into the absolute best home that she can go into."
If you are interested in adopting Mercy or any of the other animals at the Butler County Humane Society, you can fill out an application on its website.
