Puppies found in dumpster, $7,500 reward offered

King County Animal Services is investigating a potential animal cruelty case involving six golden retriever/Labrador mix puppies rescued from a dumpster Thursday at a park located in the 11400 Block of the Issaquah-Hobart Road. King County Animal Services responded immediately to an anonymous call Thursday from a person who spotted the puppies, but was unable to reach them. Animal experts could not determine how long the puppies had been abandoned in the dumpster, but they were wet, cold and many were near starvation.

King County Animal Care and Control is investigating a potential animal cruelty case involving six golden retriever/Labrador mix puppies rescued from a dumpster Thursday at a park located in the 11400 Block of the Issaquah-Hobart Road. King County Animal Care and Control responded immediately to an anonymous call Thursday from a person who spotted the puppies, but was unable to reach them. Animal experts could not determine how long the puppies had been abandoned in the dumpster, but they were wet, cold and many were near starvation.

Animal Care and Control is actively pursuing leads and the public is encouraged to report any information related to this case to 206-296-3958. Animal Services contacted two local animal activist groups Friday afternoon about offering a reward in the case. Pasado's Safe Haven is posting a reward of $5,000 and the Humane Society of the United States is posting a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the this act. Animal abandonment is a violation of State and local laws and the perpetrators could be charged with felony Animal Cruelty.

"The puppies were found in deplorable conditions. They were left to fend for themselves without food, water or shelter," said Al Dams, acting manager of King County Animal Care and Control. "Sadly, after medical treatment and overnight observation, one puppy has died but we are hopeful we can nurse the remaining puppies back to health and have them available for adoption into good homes within the next several weeks."

Animal Care and Control is actively pursuing leads in this case and the public is encouraged to report any information related to this case to 206-296-3958.

Dams reminds the public to bring unwanted animals to a King County animal shelter, rather than abandoning them. There is no fee to relinquish animals at a King County animal shelter.

"We are thankful that King County Animal Care and Control was able to rescue these animals," said Inga Gibson, state program manager for The Humane Society of the United States. "Abandoning an animal is cruel and unnecessary. There is always a humane option. We encourage anyone with information about this case to contact King County Animal Care and Control."

"We cannot allow the perpetrators of this horrible act to escape justice," says Kim Sgro, Executive Director of Pasado's. "We must send a message to the general public that animals are sentient beings and not garbage. We support Senate Bill 5227, the Pet Abandonment bill, which will address this issue. Under present Washington law, abandonment is not clearly defined and cases like this happen far too often."

King County Animal Care and Control encourages responsible pet ownership and, since 1972, has provided adoption and other animal services to residents of unincorporated King County and all cities except Seattle, Renton, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Milton, and Medina. King County Animal Care and Control operates animal shelters in Kent and Bellevue from which it offers animal adoption, pet licensing, shelter for lost pets, and help in locating lost pets. In 2005, King County shelter staff licensed more than 144,000 cats and dogs and rescued 4,979 animals and adopted them into loving homes. For more information, please visit kingcounty.gov/pets on the internet or call 206-296-PETS (7387).