A good Samaritan says he saved an 8-year-old girl and an abandoned dog on Sunday.

The Suffolk SPCA says a long-haired Chihuahua was dumped in a laundry basket at BTJ's Jungle Petstore in West Islip Sunday afternoon. They say the dog took off running.

Richard DeLorentis left his car dealership lot to catch the dog. An 8-year-old girl also allegedly tried to catch the dog.

"I stopped her. I said I'll get your dog. I stopped her from going into Sunrise Highway. I preceded to chase the dog down Sunrise Highway where cars, thank God, these cars stopped," he said.

Officials are now looking for the dog's owner, who faces charges. The SPCA says pet stores are not safe havens.

"There are resources available if they called SPCA, if they brought the animal to any veterinary establishment. Any shelter the dog would have been safely placed," says Jennifer Pape, of the Suffolk SPCA.