Malnourished Dog Found Locked In Closet By New Owners Of Maine Home

A couple entered their newly-bought home in Caribou, Maine, to find a malnourished dog locked in one of the closets.

The new owners of the home on Belanger Road found the dog, a suspected pit bull mix, abandoned at their home Wednesday when they began renovating the home. The dog appeared in desperate need of food and medical care, Bangor Daily News reported.

"As you can tell the pup has not been properly cared for in quite some time. In fact, he was found abandoned in a closet in a recently purchased home (that had been vacant for some time) in Caribou," the police said in a statement and shared pictures of the dog on Facebook.

Caribou police further began a search for the dog's owner, who could face animal cruelty charges. It wasn't clear how old the dog was or how long it had been abandoned in the closet.

"Once the humane society looks at him, we'll have a better idea of whether he's suffered any infections or serious injuries," officer Douglas Bell said, as reported by the outlet. "Once we're able to interview the owner and know the dog's condition, we'll have a better idea of what we might charge them with."

Caribou police were following leads related to two people, suspected to be homeless, who could potentially be the dog's owner, as per NY Post.

"We suspect that they were squatting [in the home]," officer Bell added.

Authorities believed the culprits were not the previous owners of the house. The house was reportedly vacant for several months before the couple bought it.

The cop revealed the dog was acting aggressively when officers rescued him from the closet.

Caribou police called on people with any information on the matter to contact the department as they take care of the animal. They also asked the public to refrain from engaging in any public insults against the owner as they preferred to handle the matter privately.

"We are looking to speak with the owner(s) for obvious reasons. If you are the owner or know who the owner is please come to the police department, send us a private message or give us a call at 493-3301," the police statement added. "We are making sure he gets the care he needs in the meantime."