Family adopts puppy abandoned in mailbox

BUNA, Texas – Investigators in southeast Texas are searching for a man who was caught on camera leaving a puppy in a mailbox without food or water over the weekend.

The story has a happy ending after a family opens its doors to the little guy.

Rari is the newest member of the McKinzy family from Silsbee.

As they were leaving from the Pentecostal Church of Buna on Sunday, they found the puppy outside in the parking lot.

"After church, the boys were having a fit to take him home and he didn't have a collar and he was hungry so we took him home," Lauren McKinzy said.

Surveillance video shows a man leaving the dog in the mailbox at the Buna Animal Hospital across the street on Saturday afternoon.

Deputies said the man actually drove by the hospital twice, and the second time he got out of his car and placed the puppy inside the mailbox, where it was left all weekend long.

"That animal doesn't have a choice. You know, they rely on you to feed them, to water them, you know, to take care of them," Jasper County Sheriff's Office Deputy Matt Ortego said.

For the McKinzys, Rari was a sign of faith sent from above.

"I just can't see hurting a puppy. If you don't want it, give it away. Don't hurt it," Lauren said.

The Jasper County Sheriff's Office is now looking for the man who left the puppy in the mailbox.