PETA is asking for the public’s help in finding those responsible for leaving three puppies abandoned outdoors during freezing temperatures.
“PETA is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and cruelty conviction of the person(s) responsible for abandoning three puppies in the woods in the cold near the intersection of Gershal and Eppinger Avenues. One of the puppies was already dead by the time they were discovered,” the organization said in a press release on Monday.
The animals were discovered Nov. 29 by Buena resident Suzanne Stretch who heard the puppies crying.
Troopers from the Bridgeton New Jersey State Police Station were dispatched near Eppinger Avenue in Pittsgrove Township, Salem County, around 12:30 p.m. to rescue the puppies.
According to PETA, Stretch found the animals “trapped in a basket.”
“One puppy died, and the other two were emaciated, dehydrated and had a cold. Weather reports show that the temperature dropped to as low as 20 degrees that day.”
After the puppies were taken to the South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter and examined by a veterinarian, the puppies were estimated to be about 10 weeks old. The couple’s names were Cosmo and Wanda.
Forrest. Getty
“Someone dumped these puppies in the woods, one died, and the rest were left to freeze or starve to death,” said PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “If there are any other animals in this person’s custody, they could be in serious danger, and PETA is urging anyone with information to come forward.”
No leads or suspects have been identified.
New Jersey State Police are asking anyone with information to contact Tpr. M. Wright at the NJSP Bridgeton Station at 856-451-0101. Anonymous tips are welcome.
Last month, Speedway Animal Rescue in Indiana asked for the public’s help in locating the owner(s) of a puppy that was found abandoned at Indianapolis International Airport.
“This puppy, whom we have named Boeing, was abandoned today at the Indianapolis airport. My ‘guess’ is that he did not have a health certificate and the owner had to choose,” the shelter wrote on Facebook. The upload contained two photos of a small white dog.
An anonymous caller rescues puppies abandoned in a box on a Michigan road during a storm
“If you are that owner, please contact us,” the message continued. “You won’t get in trouble. Your dog is safe, we just want information so we can keep an eye on his injuries and better understand what he might need.”
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The rescue center added that the pooch is estimated to be “approximately 4-5 months old” and has “stitches on his front leg/armpit and a bandage on his body.”
Speedway later shared an update saying that many people were interested in adopting Boeing, but that process won’t begin until he is fully recovered and that they “have to hold Boeing for two weeks to give the owner time to come back.”
“We have a family that has adopted from us in the past and is interested in him, and they will have first right of adoption,” the post continued.
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