Dog left tied to train tracks rescued
A dog that was rescued after being found tied to traintracks in the Mecca area was up for adoption today.
Banjo, a 10-month-old poodle-terrier mix, was left on the tracks around5 p.m. April 2 east of Fourth Street. An engineer on an approaching train saw aman walking away from the area, spotted something on the tracks and usedemergency brakes to stop the train, according to the Riverside CountyDepartment of Animal Services.
Union Pacific Special Agent Sal Pina arrested the man who was seenleaving the tracks and untied Banjo. The dog was the same breed as the agent’sdog, Sadie, with a lighter coat, according to the Riverside County Departmentof Animal Services.
“It’s probably one of the worst things I’ve seen,” Pina said. “I’venever seen something like this.”
The 78-year-old man Pina arrested said his family didn’t want the dogand didn’t know what to do with him.
“After an extensive interview, Agent Pina said that he could not pursuean animal-cruelty case because the man appeared to be confused or senile anddidn’t fully understand what he had done,” according to the Animal Servicesdepartment.
He held the man until family members arrived. Banjo was taken to theCoachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms. Veterinary Technician JoMarie Upegui examined the dog, treated him and gave him a bath, then took himhome to give him extra care. She and her coworkers nicknamed him “Banjo,” areference to old traffic signals on rail lines.
Animal services officials said Banjo appears healthy and friendly.Anyone interested in adopting him must go through a special applicationprocess, and should email shelterinfo@rivcocha.org about why their family wouldbe best for Banjo.
