Emaciated dogs abandoned near busy road in Pueblo
Posted: 10.09.2012 at 9:17 PM

PUEBLO, COLO. -- Animal law enforcement officers are asking the community for help.

They are looking for a man who tossed three dogs out of his truck in Pueblo.

The dogs were abandoned outside the Pueblo Motorsports Park near the intersection of Highway 50 and N. Pueblo Boulevard on October 1.

Authorities said all were dangerously underweight, and one had a collar embedded in its neck.

"When you put your hands on them, you can feel their skeletal structures," Joe Stafford, Director of Animal Law Enforcement for the Humane Society, said. "It is in fact a violation of cruelty to animals to abandon an animal without leaving it with necessary care."

Stafford said a witness passing by the Pueblo Motorsports Park saw a man in a blue Dodge truck pull up, and toss the three dogs out.

He said the driver left before the witness could write down the license plate number.

"We are always guarded with out prognosis for animals because we just do not know how they are going to react in the shelter," Stafford said.

He said it will be awhile before the Humane Society knows if the dogs can eventually be adopted, and added right now they are focused on getting them medical help.

"One of the dogs had a barking type collar partially embedded into its neck, so one can imagine the infection and problems that causes," Stafford said.

Along with the criminal investigation, he said his team is also anxious to find the suspect responsible to make sure he is not abusing any more animals.

"All we can do is advocate for these animals, and try to do the right thing for them," he said.

If you or someone you know saw or heard something related to this case, you are asked to call Pueblo Animals Services Dispatch Line at 719-544-3005.