Late on May 12, surveillance footage in the Flats captured a man walking across the Center Street Bridge with a dog, tying the animal to a railing near the bridge, then leaving the area on foot without it. Cleveland Animal Care and Control says the dog is now in city care and is asking residents for help identifying the man, along with any camera footage from nearby homes or businesses.
According to Cleveland19, the agency posted on Facebook that the man was recorded tying the dog to the bridge railing, then heading north toward Washington Avenue alone. In that post, officials asked anyone with information to call 216-664-3069 or send an anonymous text to 216-835-8238.
Per the City of Cleveland, the Division of Animal Care & Control lists 216-664-3069 as its main phone line and provides instructions for reporting animals in traps or in distress. The city also outlines basic pickup and trapping rules that guide officers when they respond to these calls.
Tethering rules and possible penalties
Local tethering laws limit when and how dogs can be left tied up outdoors, particularly in unsafe conditions, and breaking those rules can bring criminal charges. As reported by News 5 Cleveland, violations of Cleveland’s tethering ordinance can be charged as a misdemeanor and may lead to fines and even the loss of the animal.
Not an isolated problem
This case is the latest in a string of abandoned-animal reports that have prompted similar public appeals for tips and video. In March, a tied-up dog found along the Tremont Towpath led authorities to ask for help tracking down whoever left that animal as well.
Officials are again urging anyone with photos, video or other information related to the Center Street Bridge incident to review doorbell and security footage and get in touch. The Cleveland Animal Protective League notes that its humane investigations team enforces Ohio’s animal protection statutes (ORC 959) and provides a cruelty hotline along with guidance on what details to include when reporting concerns. More information on how to file a report is available through the Cleveland APL.
