Law roundup: Owner abandons sick dog at veterinarian’s office

After a woman allegedly abandoned her sick pit bull mix at a veterinary clinic, employees contacted the Kalispell Police Department looking for help in tracking her down. The 5-month-old dog, who went by “Tux” possibly owing to its black and white fur, received an exam and tested positive for parvovirus with the total bill coming to about $201. Calls to Tux’s owner had gone unanswered and the line lacked a voicemail box. The employees probably should have been on guard after the owner allegedly asked “What happens if someone doesn't pay for their animal’s treatment here” on the way out of the clinic. Officers also tried to contact the owner, but to no avail and Tux was taken to the county animal shelter. 

Authorities met up with an apparently homeless teenager living out of a vehicle near enough to one of the high schools that students were joining him during lunch. Although he initially tried to pass himself off as a student, the officer questioning him said that as the school resource officer he could check his name. Reportedly coming clean, the teen said he planned to transfer to the high school next year having last been in a classroom in eastern Montana. The officer provided him with information about local homeless shelters and told him he would need to remove his vehicle from the street as it was no longer operable. 

Someone hoping to clean up a homeless camp near the Parkline Trail called the police looking for directions.