[Denver]

HEARTLESS dog owners who left their pooches outside to fend for themselves in deadly Hurricane Irma could be prosecuted.

Animal welfare officers rescued 40 dogs - many of them tied to poles or left in outside pens - as the category-4 storm raged across Palm Beach in Florida.

Dianne Sauve, director of the Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control, said: "There is absolutely no excuse for doing that."

She and Dave Aronberg, the state prosecutor for Palm Beach County, vowed to come down hard on these cruel dog owners.

“This is a prime example of animal cruelty,” Aronberg said. “We will find you, and we will prosecute you.”

Yahoo News reports The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has rescued up to 600 animals in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina in the aftermath of Irma.

ASPCA vice president Tim Rickey said: "It’s critical for pet owners to consider their animals when preparing for any disaster, and we strongly urge them to always bring their animals with them if they have to evacuate their home.

"The ASPCA stands ready to assist animals in Hurricane Irma’s path, but the first and best line of defence for a pet will always be a well-prepared owner."


Hurricane Irma laid waste to beautiful Caribbean islands and caused historic destruction across Florida. The cleanup will take weeks; recovery will take months. Some islanders just want out.

And after a huge exodus from the Florida peninsula, southbound traffic remains heavy with evacuees returning to uncertain situations, many without power or water in sweltering heat and humidity.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/446215...gs-prosecuted/

[Cal.]

Good. So cruel.

[Ashley.]

I'm glad. Surely it's common sense to keep them inside and away from it all?