WARRINGTON, PA — A man turned himself in to police after allegedly abandoning his roommate’s German Shepherd at a park while the dog’s owner was hospitalized.
Steven Henry Coakley, 63, of Warrington, was processed and arraigned on Jan. 14 by Judge Wertman, who set bail at $55,000 unsecured.
Police said a resident contacted them on Dec. 26 to report that his German Shepherd, Abby, had been taken or abandoned while he was hospitalized for a medical issue earlier in the month.
The resident told police he was admitted to a rehabilitation facility on Dec. 2 and during that time Coakley, his roommate, was caring for his one-and-a-half-year-old dog.
Coakley told police he became frustrated with Abby due to constant whining, damage to the apartment and repeated urination and defecation inside the residence.
On an unknown date, Coakley placed Abby into his truck and drove to a park in Lansdale near the Pennsylvania Turnpike, according to the investigation.
Coakley threw a frisbee to Abby several times, police said.
On the final throw, Coakley returned to his truck and drove away, intentionally abandoning Abby in the park without food, water or shelter, according to police.
On Dec. 12, the Towamencin Police Department located an unknown dog and transported her to the SPCA.
The SPCA reported the dog was malnourished at the time she was brought into their care.
The investigation revealed the dog was Abby.
On the day Abby was found, the temperature did not reach 35 degrees Fahrenheit.
