‘Heartbreaking video’ showed pup being abandoned. Then came ‘a happy day’
Nearly a month after a “heartbreaking video of a small pup being abandoned” in Arizona made rounds on the internet, the dog has found a home.
The 2-year-old Chihuahua named Benji was adopted by an officer with the Surprise Police Department, “the same agency that helped make his second chance possible,” the Arizona Humane Society said in an April 3 news release.
“This is a happy day,” Sergeant Rick Hernandez said of Benji’s adoption in a video shared by the nonprofit.
Security cameras captured video of the dog being “pushed out of a vehicle” on March 8, the nonprofit said.
“Our hearts broke when we saw that video of him getting dropped off on a backstreet all by himself, running and chasing after a car,” Hernandez said.
As someone was walking in the area, they saw the incident unfold, according to Hernandez.
They “immediately took that puppy in, brought them into their home, provided care, contacted us,” Hernandez said.
Meanwhile, after a video of the incident went viral on social media, those accused of leaving the dog, a 20-year-old Wittmann man and a Phoenix 26-year-old woman, turned themselves in to police, FOX10 news reported.
The two are facing misdemeanor animal cruelty charges, police told the outlet.
Once Benji arrived at the police department, Hernandez said the dog quickly captured their hearts.
“(Police staff) immediately fell in love with him,” Hernandez said.
Officers later brought Benji to the Arizona Humane Society, where staff cared for him and gave him “a microchip, vaccinations and his neuter surgery,” the nonprofit said.
Though Benji has a permanent home with the officer, Hernandez said the dog “is welcome anytime to come to work.”
“There’s bring your kids to work day. This is going to be bring Benji to work any and every day,” Hernandez said. “He is going to feel plenty of love, not only when he’s at home with his new handler, but when he’s at his set home away from home.”
Surprise is about a 30-mile drive northwest from Phoenix.
