Abandoned Animals in Cages Found on Roadside in Black Mountain, North Carolina

Abandoned animals were found by the Black Mountain Police Department locked inside their cages on the side of Dunsmore Avenue in the town of Black Mountain in Buncombe County, North Carolina, overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, March 1 to March 2.

Local authorities are still looking for who is responsible for abandoning the animals.

Although no arrests have been made yet, the act is punishable by state law under the statutes of North Carolina concerning animal protection.

Abandoned Animals

(Photo : Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

One of the cages consists of three dogs, while another cage had a rabbit and other dogs inside.

It is not yet clear the motive behind the abandonment but local authorities are searching for the person who left the animals on the roadside, as per U.S. News & World Report.

There are no further details available yet regarding the condition of the animals or the next action to be taken for the rescued animals.

However, initial adoption into an animal shelter is likely to be the next step for the rescued animals on Dunsmore Avenue.

The Black Mountain Police Department said if any person knows about the incident or the one responsible for it, they should call the Buncombe County Animal Control.

According to ABC 17 News, the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office offers animal services beyond the boundaries of town and county.

Also Read: Hunters Dump Companion Hounds Along Hampton Roads, Virginia After Hunting Season

Animal Protection Law in North Carolina

According to the Animal Legal & Historical Center of the Michigan State University, abandonment of animals is punishable by law under North Carolina.

Article 47 on Cruelty to Animals gives some of the following criteria and conditions that will result in violation of the animal protection law:

The intentional abandonment, harm, injury, lack of care, torture, killing, and other acts that may cause discomfort, health deterioration, and even death to an animal; violation will be found guilty of class 1 misdemeanor
If another person is tasked to the acts in the first premise, it will also be considered as a violation of the animal protection law and be found guilty of a Class H felony
Furthermore, the law also covers protection for licensed veterinarians who participate in an animal cruelty investigation

Domestic and International Animal Abuse

Animal abuse is not only common in the US but it also has been an issue worldwide.

Acts of abuse on animals have often led to their abandonment, injury, or even death. Ranging from physical maltreatment to abandonment, animals have been subject to a variety of abuse over the years.

The Human Society of the United States (HSUS) said the most common victims of animal abuse or animal cruelty are cats, dogs, horses, and livestock.

Disregarding animal rights can take the form of organized crime and domestic abuse.

For instance, organizing criminal activities like animal trafficking and dogfighting then involve harming animals.

Furthermore, the HSUS also stated that 71% of domestic violence victims blamed their abusers for also targeting their pets.

Based on the given instances, animal abuse resides in the aspects of both psychological and economic motives that would determine if an individual would protect or harm his or her pet or other animals.