Dogs left behind after alleged murdersuicide taken to shelter
Nov 22, 2024
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- It's been more than 3 weeks since two men were found shot to death at a South Bakersfield home.
The details of the shooting and their identities have not been released and now the dogs that were left behind may be put down.
Here's the story of Aqua and Toby, the bonded pair looking for a new home.
Aqua and Toby are still healing after their owner died in an alleged murder suicide on Cresson Court in South Bakersfield Oct. 29.
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More than 3 weeks later, the dogs are still waiting to be saved
"We don't have unlimited space and when there's a couple of dogs and noone's really paying attention to them, that can really work against them and the ending could be sad," Daniel Litterell, with the Kern County Animal Services, said.
Aqua's story started in 2013 at the age of 4 months old when she wound up in the shelter.
After 60 days, she was adopted into the loving arms of Keith M. Austin Sr., the veteran who died in his home on Cresson Court. His daughter identifying him to 17 News.
Aqua's 12 years old now and back in the shelter with Austin's other dog a 10-year-old shepherd mix named Tim, family members call him Toby. They share a lifelong bond.
"They're part of a family and so, it's kind of like your brother and sister here and they want to be together. We wanna keep them together if we can," Litterell said.
All adoption fees will be waived for this pair, but time is running out.
"The shelter is a very stressful situation, but if you give them some time, they'll fit right into a family," Litterell said.
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These are photos of the dogs Austin and his ex-wife shared. They divorced and she moved back to Germany.
She's 80 years old and due to her health she can no longer fly. She says Aqua and Toby can't die.
"These are priority dogs. These dogs need to find a home as quickly as possible," Litterell said.