Former UFC champion Frank Shamrock told a local news channel he is responsible for abandoning a dog in an airport parking lot.
According to ABC news affiliate WFAA, former UFC champion Frank Shamrock is being investigated by Dallas Police after he allegedly left a dog in the back of a pickup truck for five days. The dog was found tied up, in the truck, in the parking lot of Dallas’ Love Field airport.
WFAA spoke to Shamrock on the phone. In that call he claimed responsibility for leaving the dog, named Zelda, at the airport. Shamrock claimed the dog belonged to his mother, but that she was no longer able to care for it.
Shamrock also told WFAA that he tried to find shelter for Zelda and another dog formerly belonging to his mother. On March 2nd, Shamrock wrote on Facebook, “Need help. Can anyone take a dog today in Dallas, Texas? My mom has to giver her dogs away as she can’t care for them anymore.”
Need help! Can anyone take a dog today in Dallas Texas? My mom has to give her dogs away as she can’t care for them…
Posted by Frank Shamrock on Saturday, March 2, 2019
Shamrock said he made the post while he was in Dallas helping to move his ailing mother from her home. He said he found shelter for one dog, but claimed that no other shelter would take Zelda. In response to this, Shamrock admitted, he tied the dog up in the back truck, left her some food and water, and boarded a plane back to California.
Police believe the dog was in the truck between March 2nd and 7ths. Animal rights activist Meg Sherman told WFAA that it’s against the law to abandon a dog in such manner.
“Not to mention that weekend it was extremely cold so the dog could freeze, low temperatures, a number of things could have happened to the dog,” added Sherman.
Police are reportedly looking to file charges against Shamrock. “They can charge me with whatever,” said Shamrock. “I will show up. It is what it is. I’m not hiding in any way. It’s an unfortunate and terrible thing. I’m an animal lover and I ran away crying.”
Since WFAA’s story about Shamrock aired, the former fighter has taken to social media to complain about the coverage.
This is #fakenews. @abcnews Edited to create a story. Very sad. Rebecca Lopez you should be ashamed of yourself, I am…
Posted by Frank Shamrock on Thursday, March 21, 2019
“This is #fakenews,” he wrote. “[ABC news] Edited to create a story. Very sad.” Shamrock then claimed he is not being investigated and that only agreed to be interviewed by WFAA to “help bring #awareness to #animalcruelty and #elderabuse.”
Zelda is reportedly in the care of Dallas Animal Control. It’s unclear what will happen to her.