Concerns About Unwanted Pets Abandoned at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve

CHARLOTTE, NC – “It’s horrible. The poor dogs didn’t do anything wrong. So I think that’s pretty heartless,” says Nicole Cheslak.

Cheslak, the former director of Historic Latta Plantation got a call Saturday about a pit bull now named Hercules.

The dog was found abandoned inside the 1400 acre Latta Plantation Nature Preserve in Huntersville.

It’s just one of many pets she says have been left behind inside the park over the past few years.

“Instead of trying to find them a new home, they just dump them and then each are (left) to fend for themselves,” Cheslak says.

In North Carolina, abandoning an animal is against the law, and is considered a class two misdemeanor.

“People get in really difficult situations too, but this really isn’t the answer,” says Andrea Kilgore.

Kilgore says it’s much better to reach out to the Humane Society or animal rescue groups.

She’s helping foster Hercules for now, but he still needs a permanent home.

The dog also needs surgery for an injured leg.

“Despite all of that he still loves everyone he comes in contact with and in typical pitty fashion just loves people,” she says.

A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help pay for Hercules surgery and vaccinations.