Dog Left Tied To Bench Outside Salem Animal Shelter

SALEM, MA -- Officials at the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem say a dog is okay after it was found tied to a bench outside the Highland Avenue facility Tuesday morning.Shelter workers, who estimate the dog was left in the seven-degree cold for about 45 minutes, fed her a warm meal and wrapped him in blankets before moving him inside.

"Maybe we'll never know the name she has always known, what she has been through, or why you didn't go to another door at our building to talk to someone instead of just leaving her tied up," the shelter said in a Facebook post. "She'll be safe with us until she finds a new home with someone who will love her forever."

In addition to a photo of the dog, the shelter posted a photo of the person that is believed to have dropped the dog off and the car they drove away in:

The American Veterinary Medical Association notes that, like people, cats and dogs are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia and should be kept inside. The association has a list of cold-weather safety tips for pets and animals available on its Website.

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Photo by Northeast Animal Shelter.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).