Dogs rescued after friend claimed owner went to ICE appointment …

Staff from the local SPCA said they first learned of the situation on Monday and worked to obtain legal authority to enter the residence. According to SPCA officials, they were required to wait a set period and said they had 12 hours until they could legally enter the home on Tuesday. SPCA officers arrived at the property at 11:30 a.m. and entered that morning to remove the two animals.

The removal was carried out with assistance from City of Buffalo Dog Control; Buffalo Police remained outside the residence while SPCA personnel and dog control officers conducted the entry and transfer. Officials involved in the response reported that the apartment’s heat was on and that the dogs had gone to the bathroom inside the home. Aside from that, the animals “seemed well when they were taken from the home,” SPCA staff said, and they were transported into SPCA care for immediate housing and welfare.

Jesse Bettencourt, a friend of the owner who identified him only as Alfonso, told reporters the man attended an ICE appointment more than a week before the rescue and did not come back, prompting neighbors and friends to raise concern for the animals. “This is my best friend. He’s the man that’ll do anything for you. He’ll never show up late for work,” Bettencourt said. He described long ties to the community, saying, “He’s been there 20 years working hard, and he loves this country. He came here 40 years ago and learned our language, and had the American dream to come here and work.”

Officials named several organizations involved in the response: the SPCA, City of Buffalo Dog Control and the Buffalo Police. ICE was identified in relation to the owner’s appointment. Local public figures were also connected to the matter; Common Councilman Bryan Bollman and Congressman Tim Kennedy were named among people tied to the case, according to local reporting.

When animals are found without owners present, animal control or law enforcement typically seize the animals for their safety, transport them to a licensed shelter, and ensure they receive food, water, veterinary care, and safe housing as required by cruelty and shelter-care standards. Local animal shelters generally do not ask about or track an owner’s immigration status and instead focus on the animal’s welfare and legal ownership, only learning about deportation or detention if someone voluntarily discloses it.

The SPCA confirmed the animals were placed into its care after removal and that the organization is responsible for their immediate housing and any necessary veterinary attention. The rescue capped several days of concern raised by the dogs’ friend and others in the neighborhood, who said they had been trying to verify the owner’s whereabouts and the animals’ condition.

Those involved emphasized that the response followed legal and procedural steps before entry. Buffalo Police maintained a perimeter outside the home while SPCA and dog control staff conducted the inside assessment and transport. The agencies declined to provide further comment on the owner’s immigration or legal status beyond confirming an ICE appointment was the origin of concerns.

Friends and neighbors said they worried the animals would be left without care if the owner did not return. Pet owners can protect their animals in unexpected situations by creating a written emergency care plan, including daily routines, medical needs, and veterinary information, and sharing it with at least one designated caregiver such as a trusted neighbor, friend, or family member.

Source reporting on the rescue and the surrounding circumstances was published by WKBW, which first described the timeline and the agency responses.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.