YORK, Pa. — The York County SPCA said Friday a puppy abandoned outside its facility earlier this week is now available for adoption.
The SPCA said the pup, which they have named Swiss Roll, was left tied to a light post outside the building on Tuesday.
The 43-pound pit bull/terrier mix appears to have been well cared for and is "very social with the humans and dogs he's met at the shelter," the SPCA said on Swiss Roll's adoption page. "His ideal family will understand that he is still a puppy and needs to work on crate and potty training as well as his basic manners."
The SPCA also said the puppy's abandonment points to a larger issue, as people continue to struggle to make ends meet.
In a statement, the York County YMCA said:
"When we see the security camera footage of Swiss Roll being tied to the light post, we see a desperate man in an impossible situation, making a heartbreaking decision. He represents a greater challenge many of our community members face. We aim to build a relationship with our community members so that instead of tying animals to light posts, leaving them in the woods, or worse, they trust us enough to walk through our doors and speak with us about the challenges they are experiencing in keeping their companion animal.
"All of us at the York County SPCA wish the man in the video would have allowed us to help him manage his situation. Instead, he tied Swiss Roll to a light post, reiterating how important it is to continue educating our community and building trust. What we don't want to do is judge community members in a time of desperation and make them feel so alienated or ashamed that they don't allow us to assist them in their time of need.
"When a stray or abandoned pet comes into the York County SPCA, we receive no information on the pet, making safely placing pets into loving permanent homes significantly harder since we don't know the dog's name or medical or behavioral history.
"Our kennel is completely full, and we urgently need your help spreading the word about the value of fostering. By fostering, you're not just saving a pet's life but also creating space in our shelter for the next pet in need. As a YCSPCA foster, all your expenses, including medical and supplies, are covered until we find your foster pet a new loving home. Your support is crucial to our mission. Thank you, York County community."