08/03/2026
🚨 PSA: The park is for picnics, walks, and squirrels… NOT for abandoning your dog.
We understand that life happens. Financial hardships, housing changes, and unexpected circumstances can make it difficult to care for a pet. If you can no longer keep your dog, there are responsible options available.
What isn’t an option is abandoning your dog at a park.
Besides being illegal, abandonment often ends in tragedy. A dumped dog may be struck by a vehicle, attacked by other animals, suffer from heat exhaustion, become lost, or bite someone out of fear. Or, like this beautiful girl, they simply sit in one spot, confused and faithfully waiting for the person who left them—in 99-degree Texas heat.
Here’s the good news: Surrendering your pet to the Tri-City Animal Shelter is free. If keeping your pet is no longer possible, please contact the shelter or make every effort to responsibly rehome them before considering abandonment.
No matter what your opinion of shelters may be, your pet has a much better chance of receiving food, water, veterinary care, and finding a loving new home than being left alone in a park wondering why their best friend never came back.
Your dog would never leave you behind.
Please don’t leave them behind.
A special thank you to the concerned citizen who reported this sweet girl and took the initiative to safely secure her in their vehicle until Animal Control arrived. Your quick thinking, compassion, and willingness to help likely prevented her from being injured or worse. We truly appreciate citizens who step up and make a difference.