'Callous and cowardly' person who abandoned dying dog sought by Calgary Humane Society

An abandoned elderly Shih Tzuwas found tethered to a post outside the Calgary Humane Society after spending the night in the rain.

The animal was in such poor health it had to beeuthanized.

The society is asking the public to help identify the person responsible for the animal's severe neglect.

Blood tests and a physical examination revealed the dog was suffering from end-stage renal failure and a large open sore on his rear end, said Brad Nichols, senior manager of animal cruelty investigations.

His hair was matted to such an extent that suggestedmonths, if not years, of irresponsibility, Nichols said.

"Knowing that this dog was suffering the way that it was, to leave it out in the rain overnight is callous and cowardly," Nichols said.

Taking the dog to a 24-hour emergency clinic, or surrendering the animal during regular business hours, are just two options that "would've been more palatable," he added.

CCTV footage released

Indoor surveillance cameras captured a shadowy figure on the night of June 14, around 10 p.m., who brings the dog to the door, leaves it thereand walks away.

The quality of the footage is too poor to properly identify the person, so the humane society is appealing to the public for help identifying either the dog or its owner.

Nichols said he can count on one hand the number of times someone has so "brazenly" abandoned a pet on the shelter's steps.

The humane society has "a big, red, criminal sign" posted on its main door, warningthat abandonment is a criminal offense, he explained.

"There's really no excuse or no ignorance defence when you've got that education piece right in front of your face."

The society said it wants to find the owner to hold him or her responsible, and that he or shecould face charges, such asallowing an animal to be in distressor abandoning the animal.

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