Police are looking for witnesses — and a suspect — after a large dog was abandoned in a frigid, snowy dog park in the town of Georgina, about an hour north of Toronto.
York Regional Police released a video taken on Feb. 2 of the suspect driving into the park, leading what appeared to be a Cane Corso to a post, tying it there and driving away.
“The dog did not appear to be in distress and had no visible injuries,” Constable Kevin Nebrija said in a statement released Tuesday. “The dog was taken into the care of the Georgina Animal Shelter and Adoption to receive the necessary care and attention.”
The shelter has since named her Winter.
The entire incident was captured on video.
At 8:15 a.m. Sunday, police were called Lake Drive South and Robert Street for an animal complaint. That’s where they found the dog tied to a pole.
It’s unclear how long the dog was left out in the cold. But video shows a black pick-up truck pull into the dog park.
A suspect can be seen walking the dog to an area away from the truck and tying it to a post. The person then walks away, gets ion the truck and drives away heading south on Lake Drive South.
Truck is a black pick-up truck with a quad cab. It has a black roof rack, which extends to rear of truck and it has dark rims.
The Georgina Animal Shelter described the dog as a young, female Cane Corso mix. She is perhaps one- to two-years-old. She does not have a microchip. And, she was rescued with a collar and blue leash attached.
Winter is not currently up for adoption. The shelter holds animals for five days and attempts to reunite lost animals with their proper owners.
It’s unclear in this case who dumped Winter in the park — or who the owners are.
Police want anyone with information to call the York Regional Police #3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7341, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. People can also leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.
Winter is not ready for adoption.
In the meantime, the shelter thanks the public for the outpouring of support.
