The MSPCA is seeking information about a woman who left a sick dog at a pet grooming business in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, last week and never returned.
The woman brought the English Bulldog to the Secret Garden Pet Resort on Thursday, the MSPCA said Tuesday. The animal was covered in pressure sores and suffering from skin, eye and ear infections.
Lara Cori, co-owner of Secret Garden Pet Resort, said they never saw the customer before.
"We took the dog in. Groomed him. Called the owner and couldn't get a hold of her. We kept trying," recalled Cori.
Surveillance cameras captured the woman, who appeared to have red hair and was wearing an eye patch, as she dropped off the dog. The woman used the alias “Melanie Wichester” on the intake form, the MSPCA said.
The dog, named "William", will remain at the groomers until Thursday, at which time it will be transferred to Long Island Bulldog Rescue in Stonybrook, New York.
"I just want to know why. I'm not mad at her. People do have circumstances where they're desperate, but I just wish that she took different steps where he needed to be," said Cori.
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The dog’s ear infections will likely require surgery, the MSPCA said.
"In Massachusetts, animal cruelty is a felony. You can do up to 5 years in prison so if we can find whoever left this dog we would like to prosecute them," said MSPCA Law Enforcement Officer Chelsea Weiand.
Anyone with information about the woman is asked to call the MSPCA’s law enforcement department at (800) 628-5808.
