Dog left alone inside abandoned house for weeks say neighbors

DETROIT (WJBK) - WEB UPDATE (11p.m.): Animal Control did find the owner of the townhouse and is planning on removing the dog in the morning.

A dog is found trapped in an abandoned townhouse suffering in the heat all alone.

A concerned neighbor reached out to FOX 2 after seeing the animal in distress. Allecia Gates wanted to help the poor dog - but the property owner is nowhere to be found.
  
"People should not get dogs if they can't take care of them," Gates said.

As a dog lover, Gates walks her pup jack three times a day and every time she passes the townhouse on Outer Drive in Detroit but three weeks ago she noticed a dog who had chewed through the screen, barks constantly, appears to be in distress and the owner is nowhere to be found.

The dog  is still there.

"I just feel real bad for the guy he's going to jump out of there," she said. "But he needs food, he needs water and he is using he bathroom in there and they smell him."

Neighbors like Mary Forest who live next door, say the smell from the urine and feces has become unbearable -especially as the summer temperatures soar.

"It smells horrible and it is just unkind to that animal -  no one should be treated that way," she said.

FOX 2 contacted Detroit Dog Rescue - who reached out to Detroit Animal Control. The officer learned the dog may be abandoned, but the property is owned by someone.
They are working to track that person down so they can legally remove the dog.

"Look how he is and he's about ready to jump out of there," Forest said. "If he jumps out of course he is going to be angry and hungry. And you never know what is going to happen."

By looking through public records Gates believes she found the property owner - but she claims they denied owning the townhouse. She doesn't understand how anyone could leave their dog behind.

"I would love to see this dog saved," she said. "It doesn't make any sense."

Animal control  hopes to contact the property owner - not the dog owner so officers can legally get in and rescue that dog.