Humane Society: Number of abandoned pets in Cabarrus Co. increases

CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. — A disturbing trend is emerging: more and more people are abandoning their pets in Cabarrus County, often in grossly inhumane ways.

"This is probably the worst I've seen in the last three or four years," Executive Director of the Cabarrus Humane Society Judy Sims said.

She says things are once again taking a turn for the worst. People are getting rid of their pets, or even worse, abandoning them -something that Sims says she hasn't seen at this level since the economy tanked.

Eyewitness News went through records for just the last week. Nearly 30 pets were surrendered in Cabarrus County alone and those are just the ones animal control knows about. Sims says they have seen far more cats abandoned this year than ever. While the number of abandoned dogs aren't as bad, Sims says they've seen some tied to trees.

"We're seeing a lot of small dogs tied out that we haven't seen in the past," Sims said. "And there's no protection from wild animals. There's no protection from unwanted pregnancy. There's so many things that can happen and it's grossly unfair."

Eyewitness News met Traci Boggs at a dog park; she said there have also been people abandoning dogs at dog parks. She wants people to drop off dogs and cats at the pound if they can't take care of them.

"At least then it's got a chance of being adopted," Boggs said. "Just leaving it at a park and just hoping that somebody will come and get it before it dies of heat exhaustion or dies of thirst ... I mean, I just don't understand it at all."

Naj Lewis, who was taking her dog King out to play, can't wrap her head around it, either.

"It's like having a child," Lewis said. "It's a responsibility and everyone knows it's a responsibility."