Couple turned in a 'caged' puppy as if they had saved it — but cops checked surveillance and exposed a heartbreaking truth

The couple claimed the dog came with the whole setup, including a cage, supplies, and even a ‘free’ sign.

PUBLISHED 4 HOURS AGO

(L) A young couple, potential adopters, meet an adult mixed breed dog at a kennel; (R) CCTV operators control security cameras - Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by (L) FatCamera; (R) EvgeniyShkolenko

Across the country, stories of abandoned pets stir strong emotions. Animal shelters are overwhelmed, rescue groups step in daily, and the public often rallies to help when an animal is found in distress. Those stories usually end in compassion and relief, but sometimes, the truth isn’t what it seems. A husband and wife in Massachusetts showed up at a convenience store in the middle of the night with a small female Yorkshire Terrier, claiming they had just rescued the puppy from the side of the road. They told the clerk the dog had been left inside a cage with a bed, a bowl of food and water, and even a "free" sign attached. But when police looked into it, they found out something entirely different and equally heartbreaking.

A woman hugging a gray Yorkshire terrier dog. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by FG Trade Latin)

According to the initial statement by Attleboro Police Department posted on their X account @AttleboroPolice, surveillance video revealed that the couple hadn’t stumbled across an abandoned puppy at all—they had brought in the dog themselves and fabricated the entire rescue. The pair entered the Seasons Corner Market on Washington Street in South Attleboro around 1:40 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 22. They told the clerk they "did not know what to do with it." So, the employee agreed to take it, but passed it on shortly after to a good Samaritan.

Man hugging senior pet dog. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Bread and Butter Productions)

When the store manager arrived later in the day and grew concerned for the animal’s welfare, police were called. Officers then tracked down the good Samaritan, who turned the puppy over to Attleboro Animal Control. The 6-month-old Yorkie was examined and "found to be in good health, appeared to be well-cared-for, and in no apparent distress." No collar or microchip was found. As of Tuesday, Sept. 23, the dog remained in Animal Control’s custody.

Officers standing outside police headquarters - Representative Image Source: Unsplash | Photo by Charlie Fair — Officers standing outside police headquarters. (Representative Image Source: Unsplash | Photo by Charlie Fair)

Police Chief Kyle Heagney later reviewed the surveillance footage and identified the couple. The woman allegedly admitted she had gotten the puppy from a co-worker, but when she brought it home to her husband in Cumberland, he told her they couldn’t keep it. That’s when they decided to abandon the dog instead. Heagney said their names will not be released and that the incident does not rise to the level of criminal charges. The case comes as experts warn of a rise in false rescue stories far beyond Attleboro.

A dog looking at the camera (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Magda Ehlers) — A dog looking at the camera. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Magda Ehlers)

A new report by the Social Media Animal Cruelty Coalition documented more than 1,000 links to staged rescue content in just six weeks, videos that were viewed over 572 million times. Many of those clips showed animals deliberately placed in distressing situations, including kittens, puppies, and monkeys abandoned by roadsides or in bins, only to be "saved" on camera. Veterinarians reviewing the footage said some animals even appeared to have been drugged to make them look helpless before the fake rescues. "We appreciate animal control and their assistance in housing the dog," Heagney told PEOPLE. "The good news is there’s been an overwhelming amount of support from the public in wanting to adopt this dog. Our goal now is to find this dog a loving home."