Pleasanton Sees Increased Numbers Of Abandoned Animals: PPD

PLEASANTON, CA — The Pleasanton Police Department recently discovered multiple guinea pigs left overnight near a dumpster, yet another incident of what the department says is higher than usual rates of animal abandonment.

“Compared to previous years, we've noticed a sharp increase in the number of animals abandoned in Pleasanton,” the department said on Facebook. “We're finding abandoned pets at local dog parks, in boxes outside vet clinics, and in residential neighborhoods.”

As winter temperatures dip into the 30s at night, abandoning animals could likely result in their death.

Anyone who abandons their pet could have more than just their conscience to contend with. In California, animal abandonment and animal neglect are both misdemeanors, and the Pleasanton Police Department said each case is subject to investigation.

California Penal Code 597s criminalizes purposefully abandoning an animal. Cal Penal Code 597.1 criminalizes leaving an animal in any “building, enclosure, lane, street, square, or lot of any city, county, city and county, or judicial district without proper care and attention.”

Meanwhile, Cal. Penal Code 597, California’s main animal cruelty law, criminalizes not giving an animal adequate food, drink, shelter, or protection from the weather. This could even be upgraded to a felony, depending on the severity of the case.

Anyone who cannot care for an animal is asked to call the city’s Animal Service Officer at 925-931-5100, or surrender it to the East County Animal Shelter at 4595 Gleason Drive in Dublin.

Other local shelters include:

• Valley Humane Society
• East Bay SPCA