SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Front Street Animal Shelter is looking for answers after six pit bull mix puppies were found dead in Sacramento at the beginning of August.
Chief Animal Control Officer Jace Huggins said the puppies, all between four and six months old, were found by Animal Control in an older Sacramento County trash can with the letters "LE" painted on it, along the 1400 block of Wacker Way, just east of Freeport Boulevard in South Sacramento.
Ring video surveillance from Thursday, Aug. 1, confirms that the trash can was dropped off in the neighborhood between 5 and 8 p.m., three days before someone called animal control after opening the lid and finding the dogs inside.
Unfortunately, the surveillance system was not turned on when the trash can was dropped off, so there are no leads on the person who left it on Wacker Way.
None of the dogs were microchipped or wearing collars.
"We suspect that these dogs were sick and possibly — either the owner didn't have the means, the ability to care for them, or they died very quickly. We don't know right now," Huggins said. "There's lots of different ways it could have happened, and that's why we're looking for tips from the public to help point us in the right direction."
Huggins said California animal cruelty laws are very specific, and the information animal control has so far is not enough to pursue a criminal case.
Anyone with information, however slight, is asked to call Chief Animal Control Officer, Jace Huggins at 916-808-5855.