Okla. Sheriff's Office Saves Dog Abandoned in Tiny, Locked Room After Owners Moved Away

'This is one of the toughest parts of his job: when people abandon their pets,' Okla. County Deputy Sheriff Joe Hager said

<p>Oklahoma County Sheriff

Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office/Facebook (2)

Abandoned dog rescued by Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office

A dog abandoned in a storage room has a second chance at a happy life, thanks to Oklahoma authorities.

The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook on Sept. 27 that it recently found a female canine left behind in a locked storage room of a home after her owners moved away. The sheriff's office also shared a video of when deputies found and rescued the abandoned dog.

In the video, an officer turns the doorknob leading to the storage room and opens the door to find the dark-colored canine hiding behind it. The dumped pup lets out a growl before barking at the officer.

Deputy Sheriff Joe Hager described the moment caught on video as "one of the toughest parts of his job: when people abandon their pets."

Related: Dog Abandoned with Teary Eyes and a Note Saying She's a 'Good Puppy' Finds a Home

The sheriff's office said the dog was "locked in a 12x3 foot storage room" when her "owners moved out." The agency also noted that the canine was "left without water for days." Deputies found a bag of dog food left "outside the locked door" where the dog couldn't reach it.

The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office said deputies saved the abandoned dog from the home and that animal control eventually came and "took possession of the dog."

Several people left comments under the post noting how terrible it was that the dog was left behind, including one person who wrote, "Poor baby! This makes me so sad. I don't understand how people can treat their animals this way."

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Another commented on the video, "She was afraid and defensive. My heart breaks."

Others praised the sheriff's office for its efforts to rescue the pooch, including one person who said, "Good Job Deputy Hagar for helping this puppy. 🙏 We know how much you love animals."

Related: Dog Abandoned Near North Carolina Highway with 'Free Dog, Free Kennel' Sign Rescued by Foster

The sheriff's office did not provide an update on the status of the canine after the rescue.

Shelters across the U.S. are seeing an increase in the number of abandoned dogs, according to Shelter Animals Count. The database noted that there are "250,000 more animals in the shelter system than the year before."

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