Rock climbers in a rural part of Southern California found an abandoned dog last week with zip ties around its head and face. An investigation is now underway.
The dog, a male German Shepherd aged 7 years, was found in Malibu Creek Canyon on the evening of July 3. This was confirmed by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC).
Animal Control said the hikers found the dog on the side of a road in Agoura Hills, about 250 feet down.
A little more than 30 miles west of downtown Los Angeles is where the walkers found the German Shepherd.
Marcia Mayeda, director of DACC, said, “The conditions in which this dog was found are horrible and go against our duty to care for our pets responsibly.” “DACC thanks the kind people who found this poor animal and wants the public to know that he is getting all the care he needs while we look into what happened.”
One of the climbers who found the dog told KTLA-TV that they were able to “gain the dog’s trust” long enough to take the zip tie out of its mouth. “He let my friend and I pet him, and he gently ate our food out of our hands,” the climber said.
A news statement from DACC said that police were looking into who tied the dog up with zip ties, how long it had been tied down, and who owned the dog.
The dog was stuck in a ravine when Malibu Search and Rescue arrived, according to the report. The climbers then called the police.
The animal was taken to the Agoura Hills Animal Shelter after more zip ties were cut off of it at the scene, according to the statement. The dog was then taken to the Palmdale Animal Care Center to get medical care, according to officials.
KTLA-TV reported that animal control said the dog had been exposed to poison oak and had been diagnosed with inflammation. The vet also found warts and skin tags on the dog’s stomach and thighs.
A report from LA Animal Care and Control says that the dog was given the name Argon.
The ad said that Argon, who is about 80 pounds, was taken back to the Agoura Animal Care Center on Monday.
As of Tuesday, he wasn’t ready for adoption right away.
An animal rights group in San Raphael called In Defense of Animals said that the agency and the non-profit Peace 4 Animals are offering a reward for information that leads to the person who left the animal. An IDA spokesperson, Fleur Dawes, told USA TODAY that the award was for information that led to the person who left the animal.
This week, the number went up from $2,500 to $7,600.
“We’re thankful that these hikers and police acted quickly,” Dawes said. “But our work must continue.” “Argon was left in a remote area to suffer and die.” No one who knows about this cruel act should keep quiet. We will find the person who did this horrible abuse and hold them responsible because they are a danger to others.
“Unfortunately, he may have lymphoma,” Dawes said in a Tuesday report, adding that Argon was getting tests.
Anyone who knows anything about the case should call the Los Angeles police or animal control.
