The male Landseers were reportedly found by two hikers on Sunday, Feb. 23
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A pair of dogs have been found abandoned in a cage in a Utah desert.
On Monday, Feb. 24, Hurricane Animal Shelter shared in a Facebook post that the two dogs were found off of the 318 near Quail Lake with “no food or water” on Feb. 23.
According to local media outlet Fox 13 Salt Lake City, two hikers found the male Landseers on the morning of Feb. 23. Police then reportedly took the canines to the shelter.
“We have minimal information on who left them. No colIars or microchips,” Hurricane Animal Shelter wrote in their caption of the dogs. “If anyone knows additional information that could be helpful in this case, please contact us at 435-635-8314.”
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Alongside the message, the shelter shared photos of the two dogs, including a picture of them inside the cage in the desert.
Other photos appeared to show the pooches at the shelter.
PEOPLE has contacted Hurricane Police for comment.
“Everybody needs to stop thinking that animals are disposable. They’re not disposable,” Hurricane resident Andrea Kaz told Fox 13 Salt Lake City.
Kaz continued, “In a case like this where they’re found in a cage, they left them to die. This wasn’t, ‘Hey, maybe you can fend on your own.’ It’s ‘I’m leaving you here, and I’m leaving you here in the sun, crated, to die.'”
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While the incident is being investigated as a potential animal cruelty case, the dogs were reportedly found in good condition, according to Fox 13 Salt Lake City.
“If every single person in the country were to adopt eight animals, we could clear the shelters,” Kaz said. “But within weeks, because of lack of spay and neuter and people not being responsible pet owners, the shelters would then again be full.”
She added, “So this isn’t something that’s a one type of solution. This is all-encompassing. Everyone needs to be responsible.”
Back in November 2024, PEOPLE reported that two dogs had been abandoned on the road in Jupiter Farms, Florida.
The pets were left with a note that read, “Please help them,” as well as “I am so sorry but ran out of time and options.”
The dogs, who were named Mella and Rocky, were described as non-aggressive, sweet “lover dogs,” in the note. They also had their medical records with them, as well as a message on their harness that read that they are “happy and friendly.”
