PITTSBURGH — Two women caught on surveillance camera in September abandoning an injured dog behind a convenience store on Pittsburgh North Side have been fined.
The dog was found on Sept. 25 at the 7-Eleven on Western Avenue and was taken to the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society.
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It was determined that the dog was suffering, so the decision was made by Humane Society medical staff to euthanize it.
Arielle Abdullah, 29, and Rikia Abdullah, 28, the women caught on camera leaving the dog, failed to appear in court Thursday and were found guilty of two summary charges for abandonment and ill treatment of the dog. The judge fined them the maximum of $750 for each count.
Troilynia Hicks, the owner of the dog, was also found guilty of ill treatment and fined $150.
Humane Society officials were disappointed with the outcome.
"While we are pleased that the court found all parties guilty regarding this case, we believe that had Angel's Law been passed by legislators in Harrisburg, the more serious misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty and abuse may have seen those involved receive jail time,” Humane Society police Officer Ed Mitchell said.
Angel's Law, a Pennsylvania House Bill, would allow law enforcement to charge animal abusers with a misdemeanor offence rather than a summary charge. They would then be sent through the criminal justice system.
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