WESTFIELD – A dog apparently abandoned at Papermill Playground Monday evening has found its way to the city’s animal shelter and will be available for adoption in a week.
City police were alerted Monday evening, by two concerned residents, of the puppy tied to a bike rack at the playground.
One of them said she is scared of dogs but nonetheless was concerned when she saw the dog tied out with a bowl of dog food, a bowl of water and a bag of dog supplies. She enlisted the help of her sister and son who approached the dog and found that his name is Frampton.
The woman said that the bag left with him contained a note with his name and some basic supplies including a tie out stake, some dog food and a leash.
Both the police and animal control officer Derek Alamed responded to the playground and the ACO transported the dog to the municipal animal shelter.
The city’s acting director of animal control operations, Kerri Francis, said later that the note said that Frampton is looking for a good home and gave his date of birth as Aug. 11, 2013. The note also detailed the shots the puppy needs and reported that Frampton is a 50/50 cross of blue nose pit bull and shar pei dogs. The note also said that he is good with children.
Shar peis are noted for their wrinkly skin but the walker who reported finding the dog said that she didn’t notice prominent wrinkles and Francis said that he puppy’s coat is dark and brindled “so the wrinkles would be hard to see.”
She said that like all dogs at the shelter, he will be kept and evaluated for seven days before he is offered for adoption.
She said that he is a happy and friendly dog.
“As soon as he sees you he’s wagging his tail and happy,” she said and added “he has that puppy dog face where you just want to hug him.”
Francis was disappointed that the dog was abandoned and not surrendered properly at the shelter.
Not only is it safer for dogs to be left in custody at the shelter, it allows animal control workers to learn about a dog’s history, behavior issues and medical concerns.
She acknowledged that the $50 surrender fee may be an issue with some owners who have to give up their dogs but said “we’re very lenient with that” in cases of hardship but said that the money is often not the big issue for persons surrendering dogs.
“A lot of people don’t mind paying the fifty,” she said but said that the hard part for many owners is giving away their dog.
