Reward of Up to $5,000 Offered for Help in Dog-Dumping Case

PETA Joins Tampa Animal Control Services in Search for Person Who Pushed Dog out of Car and Drove Away

For Immediate Release:
August 24, 2017

Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382

On August 7 at about 6:30 p.m., a shocked motorist managed to capture dash cam footage of the driver of a gold Chevrolet Cavalier pushing a dog—who the witness believes to be a male pit bull—out of the car near the intersection of North and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. boulevards in Tampa’s South Seminole Heights neighborhood and driving off. The dog desperately tried to chase after the car, but he couldn’t catch up—and he hasn’t been seen since.

Authorities have been unable to discern the license plate of the car and have yet to determine who is responsible for abandoning the dog. That’s why PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this crime.

The dash cam footage can be viewed here. The incident occurs at the 2:10 mark in the first video. (Warning: strong language)

“The fear, sadness, and confusion that this dog must’ve felt after being pushed out of a car and forced to watch his owner drive away from him is hard to fathom,” says PETA Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “PETA urges anyone with information about this cruel incident to come forward immediately so that whoever is responsible for abandoning this loyal dog can be held accountable.”

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Animal Control Investigator Kristie Lewis at 813-744-5660.

For more information about PETA, please visit PETA.org.