It's looking more and more like the Fairbanks North Star Borough, in Alaska's Interior, is the worst place in the state to be someone's pet. Despite the great number of animal lovers in the borough, reports of senseless cruelty and abandonment there are frequent and callous.
On Sunday morning in Fairbanks, that reputation grew a little larger. A Great Dane mix puppy was found muzzled and zipped inside a suitcase, then left in a Dumpster, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports. The puppy is now being cared for at the Fairbanks North Star Borough Animal Shelter.
The puppy appears to have been well-cared for in the months prior to being abandoned, judging by its behavior at the shelter. At 37 pounds, he is probably between three and four months old, and is "sweet natured, happy to just sit on laps and lick faces," borough animal control manager Sandy Besser told the News-Miner.
The puppy was discovered by Dennis Preslan, who uses the dumpster for his janitorial business. He noticed a blue suitcase that seemed out of place, and so he pulled it out, and found it heavier than expected.
"I unzipped it partially and all I saw was an eyeball and part of a black nose looking back at me that scared the living Jesus out of me," he said.
Although the shelter has received several calls offering to adopt the puppy, he is not currently up for adoption, as animal control is investigating the case.
Do you live around Fairbanks? Know anyone with dirtbag tendencies who used to have a big, licky-faced puppy? Fairbanks police and animal control officers would like to hear from you. Call them at 459-1450.
Read more, here.