Dog Ditched At Southwest Riverside Market; Suspect Sought

HEMET, CA -- Authorities asked Friday for the public's help in finding a man who is suspected of abandoning his dog at a Hemet supermarket. Surveillance cameras show the man left his dog in a pet carrier in the parking lot of Stater Bros on Florida Avenue around 8 a.m. Jan. 19, according to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.

Authorities believe the man ditched the 10-year-old male Chihuahua after buying milk and other groceries at the supermarket. Surveillance cameras show the man left in a blue, compact car with a license plate from another car.

“Our investigation needs the public’s help,” Animal Services Commander Chris Mayer said. “The plate may be bogus, but this man must be driving this same car. Also, the in-store cameras captured a clear image of
the man. So we’re hopeful someone knows where this person is so we can make contact and, ultimately,
interview him about his actions that day.”

The dog needs dental work, but is otherwise healthy. He remains in protective custody at the San Jacinto
Valley Animal Campus in San Jacinto. He is not currently available for adoption, pending the cruelty
investigation. Willful abandonment of an animal can be charged as a misdemeanor, authorities said.

--Photos courtesy of Riverside County Department of Animal Services