If there's one subject that's sure to enrage internet users, it's animal cruelty. People on social media are usually disgusted by even the suggestion that an animal has been hurt or left in pain, and so circulating footage of actual abuse is like dropping a lit match in a fireworks factory: a bad idea. If you want proof of this axiom, then look no further than the following example below. This week, social media users have had their collective hearts broken by a distressing clip of a dog which was abandoned by its owners, and who can be seen desperately trying to get back into their car.
The upsetting video was first uploaded by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals charity, who had discovered the footage from a CCTV camera from the town of Stoke-on-Trent in England, on the corner of Timor Grove and Pacific Road in Stoke. The incident took place at approximately 5 pm on Monday 17 December, and the video shows a Staffordshire bull terrier dog named Snoop being left behind by two people.
Commenting on the heartbreaking clip, RSPCA Inspector Natalie Perehovsky stated: "The footage has to be seen to be believed, it's just awful. To see the poor dog in such obvious distress jumping up at the car as it drives away it just heart-breaking. I can't understand how someone could do this. The vets scanned his microchip and we have traced two previous owners in the Birmingham area, but do not believe either are the current owners, and therefore not those responsible for abandoning the dog."
She added "One man can be seen clearly in the footage dumping the dog, and there is a second person in the driver seat of the car. I am very keen to hear from anyone who recognises the vehicle, the man or the dog. The veterinary staff have nicknamed the dog Snoop, and he is in good condition, thought to be two years old."
"He is a white Staffie with black marking, and is such a friendly, lovely boy. He's currently being cared for at a private boarding kennel where he will get all the care he needs whilst I investigate further. It's beggars belief that someone could abandon a dog like this at Christmas, but we are so thankful to the kind people who found Snoop sitting sadly in his bed, for taking him to the safety of vets straight away."
Thankfully, a helpful bystander discovered Scoop in his dog bed an hour after he'd been left behind, and brought him to a vet, who phoned RSPCA for help. The charity has now launched an investigation into the case, and are determined to find the dog's owner. If you or anyone else you know has any information to provide, then please contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999. Remember: a pet is for life, not just for Christmas.