A tiny Christmas miracle happened in southwest Louisiana this month. An eight-week-old puppy found locked in the trunk of a vehicle is doing much better now. Jeff Dorson of the Humane Society of Louisiana says the discovery of the malnourished and dehydrated puppy occurred when Oakdale police officers conducted a routine traffic stop.
“As they were talking to the driver, whose name was Dallas Antoine, they heard barking coming from the car. They didn’t see it in the front or the back seat. Sure enough, barking was emanating from the trunk,” Dorson explained.
Dorson says officers called local rescuer Brittany Ware to the scene who now has temporary custody of the dog that’s been named Rosie Joe. He says as soon as Rosie Joe has recovered from his terrifying experience, he will be rehomed.
“Victims of cruelty always take a time, a decompression time, to make sure that they feel safe, that there’s no harm coming their way, and they can evolve into a regular pet again. So that’s what’s happening,” Dorson said.
The driver of the vehicle, Dallas Antonie, was cited for cruelty. He is already on probation for other crimes. Dorson is not sure why Antonie was driving in Allen Parish with an eight-week-old puppy in his trunk.
“Our guess is, he didn’t want the puppy to make an accident in his car, but I’m kind of speculating. I don’t know, but he’s going to have to answer it in court,” Dorson noted.
