NEW KENT COUNTY, Va. (WWBT) -The New Kent County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a mystery surrounding three dogs.
All three were abandoned in recent weeks at a popular dog park at the Love’s Travel Stop.
At least one of the dogs was struggling in the heat when he was rescued.
“Very concerning to us every time someone would abandon an animal, it’s also a violation of Virginia law to abandon an animal,” New Kent County Sheriff Lee Bailey said.
At Love’s Travel Stop in New Kent County, there has been an uptick in dogs being left to fend for themselves.
“We’ve responded to just over a month, we’ve had three abandoned dogs that have been located at the Love’s Travel Stop off of Emmaus Church Road,” Bailey said.
Dutch Oven and Diesel are just two of the dogs found in recent weeks.
Sheriff Lee Bailey said Dutch Oven was trying to hide from the sun underneath a table when he was found.
“It’s a Class One misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to a $2,500 fine, up to a year in jail. Either or both,” Bailey said.
A Loves employee told 12 On Your Side that it’s usually people from out of state who use this dog park, but they have no clue as to who is abandoning these dogs.
“My only guess as to why that dog park has been chosen is because perhaps people see it as a relatively safe place because it’s enclosed and it’s in a trafficked area where they’re likely to be discovered,” Richmond SPCA Director of Communications, Tabitha Treloar, said.
Treloar said this isn’t just a New Kent County problem, but something they see across central Virginia.
“Once they do get into the shelter, the dog has to be treated as a stray, which means a prolonged hold, and that the shelter isn’t getting any information because the dog can’t tell them their medical history or whether they like children or other dogs,” Treloar said.
While Dutch Oven and Diesel are both in good spirits, both Bailey and Treloar said, there’s no reason to abandon a dog.
“I always encourage people to work with your local shelters to explore options before you’re at the end of your rope,” Treloar said.
Deputies said the investigation into all three is ongoing and if you know anything to give them a call at 804-966-9500. They also advise trying to obtain a license plate number and a description of the person or their vehicle to provide to the dispatcher.
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