Grr: Shelter Out to Collar Culprit Who Abused Dog

In another example of man’s inhumanity to animals, a 10-year-old Labrador retriever was hogtied, stuffed into a plastic bag and then dumped into a garbage bin behind a Laguna Niguel retail center over the weekend.

The dog, who is being called Oscar by Mission Viejo Animal Shelter workers, survived the experience without injury and is being kept at the shelter.

Angry over the incident, officials at the shelter say they’ll push for prosecution if police find the culprit.

“Somebody wanted that dog dead. . . . Nobody can walk through the door and give me a satisfactory answer as to why they did that to this animal,” said John Gonzales, who runs the shelter.

Oscar was found about 6 p.m. Saturday by a Crown Book employee who was taking trash to a dumpster at the shopping plaza at Alicia Parkway and Pacific Park Drive.

The worker “saw this bag moving [in the bin]) and there was a dog inside,” said a Crown Book employee who did not want to be identified.

The dog’s legs were bound tightly with cord like that used to tie bundles of newspapers. An animal control officer said Oscar “was wet and shivering” and had no collar, tags or microchip implant that could identify him.

Sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Hector Rivera said that all leads have been exhausted and “at this stage, unless someone steps forward, there isn’t much we can do.”

If found, the perpetrator would be charged with cruelty to animals, an offense that could be punishable by six months in jail, a $1,000 fine or both.

In separate cases recently in Orange County, two men were prosecuted in 1994 for tying the muzzles of dogs to stop them from barking. Unable to pant and release heat, one of the dogs died.

Gonzalez speculated that the animal rescued Saturday might had been stolen.

“I’d bet that at least 40% of the time . . . if you look at the files, you’d find that there were complaints about the dog barking,” said Gonzales. “It could well be that this dog was kidnapped.”

The Mission Viejo shelter made headlines 18 months ago when 11 newborn puppies were discovered next to a garbage bin in a Mission Viejo apartment complex. All of the puppies survived. Touched by their story, more than 50 people lined up to adopt them.

Gonzales said the shelter is taking applications for Oscar, who will be available for adoption after a standard seven-day waiting period ends next week. The Mission Viejo Animal Shelter does not kill animals.

After spending time with Oscar, Gonzales said he remains perplexed over a motive for abusing the dog.

“He’s one of the nicest dogs around,” Gonzales said. “He looks at you with that gray face and those big eyes and you wonder who could have possibly done this.”