Litter of puppies abandoned in woods, 2 found dead
Hunters Mountain, NS (CA)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009

Disposition: Alleged

Abuser names unreleased

Upcoming Court Dates:
» Monday, Apr 20, 2009

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

There was no shortage of people eager to adopt three mixed-breed puppies found Wednesday with two dead littermates on a woods road in remote Hunters Mountain.

Baddeck RCMP Const. Aaron Brown told The Chronicle Herald on Friday that media reports Thursday night are being credited for adoption requests from families less than 24 hours later, as well as tips that could lead to charges of animal cruelty.

"The pictures and media have certainly brought a lot of attention to this issue," Const. Brown said. "It really plays out on the heart strings."

"Those three dogs have all been spoken for, and the third one, I believe, they had six or seven people to choose from," said Const Brown.

A hunter found the abandoned sick or dead pups -- believed to be two to three months old-- along Cains Pond Road, better known locally as Swamp Road, a 20-minute drive west of Baddeck along the Cabot Trail.

"It's certainly not something we deal with on a regular basis here," Const. Brown said. "At times, we do get calls like this and we try to follow up and do what we can in relation to the investigation. There may have been an offence here committed under the animal cruelty section of the Criminal Code."

A family member of staff at the Baddeck Veterinary Clinic where the animals are being treated for dehydration and malnutrition plans to keep one of the three survivors.

One of the surviving dogs had signs of a previous leg fracture that failed to heal properly, while the other two had puncture wounds to their head or body. The three are expected to survive.

The two dead puppies appeared to have been struck in the head.

Their bodies will be kept at the local clinic for the time being but will be sent to an expert at the veterinary college in Prince Edward Island for autopsy if a suspect is found and charged.

Despite rumours circulating by midday Friday, police say no one has confessed to the crime and no one is in custody for questioning.

"We really can't say if we have a suspect yet in relationship to this because it would the (interfere with) investigation," he said. "We'd like to speak to a certain number of people who may be people of interest, who may have witnessed something in the area that day. But the public has been very helpful with us in giving us information in a timely fashion."

At least one animal rescue group has expressed outrage over the case.

Shelley Cunningham of the provincewide Litters 'n Critters Animal Rescue said she was horrified when she saw the story on Global's supper-hour news Thursday.

"I was absolutely appalled," she said. "When Russ White was up there in the woods and showed the carcasses of the two dead animals, I thought, 'The poor dogs.' To think what the poor little things went through, it just sickens me.

"I like to see the laws stiffened rather than give a slap in the wrist," Ms. Cunningham, of Tantallon said, adding, "Animal abuse should mean jail time.

"This is a needless, senseless and merciless act," Ms. Cunningham said.

"There are many animal rescue organizations who would have been more than willing to help with these pups. We get emails every day from people who want to adopt. . . . There are many who would give warm and comfortable homes. There's no reason for this, absolutely none whatsoever."

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