Fourteen puppies thrown in dumpster, one survives
Riverdale, UT (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Dec 9, 2007
County: Weber
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Michael Ray Howard
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
Thirteen puppies were found dead in a dumpster outside a Riverdale business. One puppy was found alive.
Two female workers noticed a tiny whimper coming from a cold dumpster behind their work place. The two women opened the dumpster door and found an oddly shaped garbage bag. When they opened the bag, to their horror, they found 13 dead Jack Russell Terriers and one struggling to survive.
The surviving puppy, now named “Precious” has since been adopted by a local couple. They say that judging by how many other people wanted to adopt the puppy; the other 13 could have easily been adopted if the owners had just left them in a warm box on the sidewalk.
If you have any information regarding who may have thrown the puppies in the dumpster; please call the Riverdale Police Department at 801-394-6616
Case UpdatesOgden police have arrested accused puppy-killer Michael Ray Howard. The Standard-Examiner reports today that Howard -- for whom a warrant was issued after he skipped a court hearing -- was nabbed about 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Ogden City Police Lt. David Tarran also says that when Howard was caught, an unspecified amount of drugs was seized.
Howard is charged with 13 counts of class A misdemeanor aggravated animal cruelty and one count of class B misdemeanor animal cruelty.
The charges stem from discovery of 14 puppies dumped in a trash bin behind a Riverdale fabric store in December.
Only one of the puppies survived. | Source: Salt Lake Tribune - March 13, 2008
Update posted on Mar 13, 2008 - 5:06PM |
A man accused of throwing 14 puppies into a trash dumpster last month says he did so because he didn't want to care for the animals, court documents reveal.
Michael Ray Howard, 35, tossed the animals into a dumpster in Riverdale on Dec. 9, 2007. A short time later, all but one of the dogs was found dead. The surviving Terrier was plucked from the trash bin and cared for by a woman who made the discovery.
According to court papers, Howard told police that he stuffed all 14 puppies into a heavy-duty plastic bag and left them in his back yard overnight to suffocate. The next morning, believing that the animals were dead, Howard reportedly tossed the bag into the dumpster.
It is unclear who the animals belonged to because Howard has not given the owner's identity to police.
Howard has pleaded not guilty to numerous animal cruelty charges. | Source: KUTV - Jan 12, 2008
Update posted on Jan 14, 2008 - 11:41PM |
Weber County prosecutors have filed animal cruelty charges against a man suspected of dumping 14 puppies in a trash bin behind a Riverdale store.
Michael Ray Howard, 34, was arraigned in 2nd District Court Thursday on 13 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, a class A misdemeanor, and a single count of cruelty to animals, a class B misdemeanor. According to court records, Howard appeared Thursday with an attorney after an arrest warrant was issued for him.
He was allowed to remain free on bail pending a Feb. 14 court appearance.
Howard is suspected of dumping the Jack Russell terrier-mix puppies in a plastic bag and then dropping it in a Dumpster behind a Riverdale fabric store. An employee heard whimpering and opened the bag, finding 13 dead puppies and one alive. | Source: Deseret Morning News - Jan 13, 2008
Update posted on Jan 13, 2008 - 11:31AM |
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