Call it puppy love at first sight.
That’s exactly how Palmer Township Police Officer CJ Kuronya said he felt when he came upon a 4-month-old German Shepherd found abandoned at Redners Market parking lot. The dog at about 1:30 a.m. Jan. 29 initially was picked up by a passerby driver and taken to Bethlehem Township police before being turned over to Kuronya.
Kuronya then placed the dog in the township’s holding pound. The dog did not have an identification chip or tags so Kuronya knew finding its owner would prove to be difficult.
Police posted photos of the dog on the township’s website and department’s Facebook page, as well as provided information to Northampton County 911 Dispatch in case someone inquired about him.
But no one ever came forward after seven days. Kuronya then grew saddened and said he wanted to give the puppy a new home — with him.
“(We had) been looking for a pet and were planning on obtaining one in the spring,” Kuronya of Bethlehem Township said of he and wife, Devin. “This just happened to be perfect timing.”
The couple does not have any children or any other pets.
Kuronya had to complete police adoption paperwork and be approved before a committee before adopting the puppy. Once he got the thumbs up, the couple named the pup “Hartley” based on where he was resting during the adoption process.
The Palmer Township Dog Holding area is located at the Palmer Township Public Works Garage on “Hartley” Avenue.
Police Det. Jim Alercia said Kuronya isn’t the first officer to have adopted a stray animal found in the township. Many others also have taken advantage of the adoption program since it was started several years ago, he said.
Police Monday took to the department’s Facebook page to congratulate Kuronya on the new addition:
The rest of department also has welcomed Hartley with open arms.
“We welcome Hartley to their family and to our police family,” the post states.
Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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