Dedham Police Seek Information On Potentially Abandoned Pit Bull

DEDHAM, MA - Dedham police are investigating a case of the potential abandonment of a dog found in Paul Park last week and are asking for the public’s assistance to determine who may have left the dog and any circumstances surrounding it.

The dog, a female pit bull mix, was found in Paul Park on April 12 at approximately 4:30 a.m. and is approximately two years old. It was found without a collar or tags and does not have a microchip.

"She was found by a resident who was walking her dogs early that morning," Animal Control Officer Deni Goldman in an interview with Patch Tuesday afternoon."The woman said the dog was extremely frightened, and that it took about 15 minutes to even get close to her."

Goldman added that the dog "was filthy, covered in dirt and smelled like perfume."

"She looked like she wasn't playing in the park the way she was just covered in dirt," she said. "It was like she was trying to bury herself.

"I originally thought she was a 5-month-old puppy because she's so small," Goldman continued. "But she was examined at the Animal Rescue League office in town, and we learned that she is about two years old. And we just learned this morning that she is in heat."

Despite a push over the past week on social media outlets, there have been no leads.

Goldman added that the dog, who has "bright blue eyes," looks like she is unaccustomed to receiving affection.

"She just tries to bury herself into your leg," she added. "She just glues onto you. It appears that things at home may not have been so great. Her medical care was obviously not up to par if she hadn't been spayed. She also isn't accustomed to being on a leash."

After being at the Animal Resuce League's Dedham office for the past week, she will be placed in a foster home for a couple of nights until a press conference at the Dedham Police Station at 600 High Street on Thursday morning, where an update on her situation will be given.

Goldman said that, while the dog was left in Dedham, she speculated that it may be from outside of town.

"Dedham is close to the highway, so she may have come from Boston or outside of the area," she said. "We just want to get as much outreach as possible."

This is the second case in recent months where a dog was left behind in Dedham. An emaciated, dead dog was left at the Dedham Animal Rescue League in February.

Police encourage anyone who may recognize the dog or have information regarding the case to contact the police department as soon as possible. Goldman can be reached at 781-751-9106 or via email here. The department's main telephone number is 781-751-9106.