MIDLAND, Texas — Sometimes people can no longer properly care for their pet for one reason or another.
However, that doesn’t mean that they can just drop the animal off on a random street corner or in the middle of nowhere.
“Animal dumping is animal abandonment, and it is against the law here in Texas and you can face a misdemeanor charge or a felony charge, and it carries fines and sometimes jail time,” said Kim Warnick, administrative supervisor for Midland Animal Services.
Being abandoned can take a toll on the animal in more ways than one.
“An animal being abandoned alone after being raised in a home all its life, it can cause the animal mental anguish, it can cause it physical problems with its health," Warnick said. "They don't know how to hunt for their own food, they’re used to getting meals every day. They don't know what to do on the streets, where to look for food, how to find water. If they are a friendly animal, they might think all animals on the streets are friendly and it could cause them to be attacked.”
Midland Animal Services said it has a food pantry open to the community for anyone having trouble feeding their pets.
If that’s still not enough there are other options.
“If you're ever faced with the problem of not being able to care for your animal anymore, no matter what the reason may be, you can come to the animal shelter," Warnick said. "We can help you find resources, rescue groups that can help you with placing your animal in another home, foster home or transporting them outside of Midland, sometimes even outside of Texas.”