After being left behind by his previous owner in a frigid porta-potty in a park in Michigan, a dog has found a new home.
A puppy was left alone for days inside a porta toilet at Creasey Bicentennial Park. On January 19, the Grand Blanc Township Police Department announced on Facebook that a suspect had been apprehended for animal cruelty.
Jacob, a “Good Samaritan,” was recognized by the department for finding the dog and taking care of it. According to FOX 2 Detroit, the individual who discovered the animal was an employee at Creasey Bicentennial Park who was cleaning the restrooms at the time.
The dog has been given the name Hank now that he has found a new home.
According to Police Chief William Renye, who recounted the situation in a video that was posted on Facebook on January 19, the dog’s original owner said that she put the dog in the porta potty because the landlord of her apartment building informed her that she was not allowed to keep a pit bull.
Although Hank’s former owner was arrested, he was unable to share the 25-year-old’s identity because she has not been arraigned on charges, Renye said.
PEOPLE reached out to the Grand Blanc Township Police Department on Wednesday, Jan. 22 for an update, but did not immediately receive a response.
According to the police chief, Jacob found Hank “freezing cold [with] dog feces spread throughout the porta potty and pet urine.”
He added that the pit bull puppy “had no water,” and was left with only “a small bowl of food.”
Renye asked pet owners to be “responsible,” adding “Remember, you chose the animal, the animal did not choose you.” He vowed to “be the voice” for animals who suffer from cruelty.
Renye went on to tell the community that Grand Blanc Township was expecting cold weather. He advised pet owners to bring their dogs inside or provide them with a comfortable outside shelter. He also pointed out that if a pet passed away due to negligence, the owner may be punished with a crime.
Hank continues to live with his new family, and he is “well taken care of.”
Renye said earlier in the video that it had been “a few weeks” after Hank was discovered. Before the Facebook video was posted, the community learned about the puppy and took action to provide assistance.
Renye expressed gratitude to everyone who assisted, including “Grand Blanc Veterinary Hospital for providing the first year of shots to the pup, along with Petsmart and Pets Supplies Plus of Grand Blanc for the puppy food.”