Animal advocates speak out after string of dog dumping incidents

Another dead dog was found dumped in Youngstown on Thursday. It's prompting Valley animal advocates to spread the word about this behavior.

"There's a lot of things that are feeding into this and it's only getting worse," explained Jason Cooke with The Healthy Hearts and Paws Project.

The Mahoning County Dog Warden found the dead dog wrapped in a tarp secured with cables in the Oak Hill Cemetery area Thursday. The innocent animal was dumped along Joseph Street, a stretch of road with no vehicle access.

The uptick continues here in the Mahoning Valley. 21 News reported on Wednesday a dead dog was found crated here along Davis Street in Warren Township completely emaciated.

"It's increasing exponentially," Cooke added. "I attribute it to a lot of factors. We see a lot of people who are struggling financially. We are seeing a lot of mental illness and a lot of addiction to substances."

Cooke told 21 News he receives calls daily from people looking to surrender their animals. He said it's common now more than ever due to the cost of living. Cooke also said he sees more strays being found, with owners rarely coming to look for their pet.

"I think that we're just going to see more and more of this where animals aren't being taken care of, they're being left to live in their own filth and waste and suffer like his poor dog did," he said.

Cooke explained that violence on animals means a potential safety concern for the entire household.

"There's been a lot of studies throughout the years that show that really strong correlation between animal abuse, child abuse, and domestic violence," he said.

Animal advocates recommend that if a pet in your world is being mistreated, to explore the endless resources available throughout the Valley to prevent more abuse cases.

The reward to find who is responsible for mistreating the dog found in Warren Township has exceeded $3k due to community support.

The Healthy Hearts and Paws Project is also hosting an adoption event Saturday from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. at 909 Martin Luther King Blvd SW, Warren, OH 44485.