Animal cruelty cases are on the rise in San Francisco, according to San Francisco Animal Care and Control.
The reason why is not clear. The cases don’t appear to be connected.
Frail, dehydrated, and enduring unbearable pain, a 60-pound adult mastiff named Sweetie Boy, who if healthy should weigh at least 150 pounds, was found malnourished in San Francisco and all alone.
“A couple of friends of mine who walk here at the park saw the dog, took photos, and contacted the authorities,” Dog walker Richard Batchelder said. “So, hopefully, you know the information is out there and we’ll find the person.”
Unfortunately, Sweetie Boy was in such bad shape when he was found abandoned at Progress Park on Monday.
Animal Care and Control officials say he had to be euthanized later that day.
“It was terrible,” San Francisco Animal Control Executive Director Virginia Donohue said. “I mean, we administered fluids, completely unresponsive, and really suffering.”
Donohue says she suspects Sweetie Boy’s owner dropped him off at the park near Interstate 280 sometime late Sunday night or early Monday morning.
In this case, the owner has not been found.
In another case, there’s been an arrest.
Christopher Kliment was taken into custody Jul. 3 after surveillance video captured him beating his 4-year-old pit bull mix named Juicy on Mar. 30 at the Powell Street BART station.
Donohue says the only reason he was caught is because he came to the shelter the day he was arrested looking for his dog.
“He threatened our officers, and he arrived at the shelter holding a very big knife,” Donohue said. “So, in general, yeah, there are, there are issues there.”
Juicy is not eligible for adoption until Kliment’s case is resolved in court.
In the meantime, Juicy is rehabbing at the shelter, where she is expected to make a full recovery.
Animal Care officials say it is currently investigating four animal cruelty cases which they say is a high number.