Five puppies found abandoned in a makeshift cage in a creek near the 5500 block of Ruth Drive in House Springs have been reunited with their dog parents, who also had been abandoned. The owner of the seven dogs also has been identified, Jefferson County Animal Control reported March 7 on its Facebook page.
The Facebook post did not say if Animal Control officials have spoken to the owner or if the department will seek any penalties against the person who abandoned the puppies and dogs, and Animal Control personnel did not immediately return phone calls seeking more information.
The five puppies were reunited with their parents.
The mother of the five puppies, a 2-year-old pit bull, and the father, a 3-year-old Labrador retriever, appeared to have been rescued on March 7 and taken to the Animal Control Department in Hillsboro, according to the post.
Animal Control also reported that it had been working to rescue the puppies and the dogs for the last month.
The five puppies, which are about a month old, have been at Animal Control since Sgt. Tony Dennis of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office found them on March 4, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
Animal Control is looking for a rescue shelter to take the five puppies and their mother and father. The mother and the puppies will be available to be transferred on Thursday, March 14, and the father will be available on Saturday, March 16, according to the Animal Control’s website, jeffcomo.animalshelternet.com.
Animal Control reported it will have the mother and father spayed and neutered. The department also said the mother needed treatment because she was continually scratching herself.
Dennis, who has been with the Sheriff’s Office for 17 years, said Jefferson County 911 Dispatch contacted him at about 3 p.m. March 4 after someone reported seeing a person with puppies in Heads Creek near Hwy. MM in House Springs.
The dispatcher, Jackie Manley, could tell from the GPS in Dennis’ cruiser that he was nearby and called him directly, Dennis said.
He said he met the person who called 911 and was led to the dry creek near Ruth Drive.
“Apparently, puppies had been left in that creek before,” Dennis said. “Within about five minutes of being pointed in the direction (of where the person was seen in the creek), I could see the makeshift cage.”
The puppies were in a plastic bin that was inside a wagon. A bucket that contained tennis shoes and other household items was behind the bin. A collapsable wire shelf or cage was over the bin and bucket, trapping the puppies, authorities reported.
“I couldn’t believe somebody did this,” Dennis said. “I am a dog person myself, and I own a couple (of basset hounds). I was sympathetic to (the puppies).”
Dennis said some of the puppies were panting and appeared hot, but he thought they all looked in good shape.
He said he saw a dog nearby he believed was the puppies’ mother, but she ran away before Animal Control arrived.
Dennis said he was happy to hear Animal Control rescued the mother and father.
“I’m extremely pleased the puppies are likely going to find good homes, and the mom and dad as well,” he said. “It is a good ending for this case. Kudos to Animal Control for putting the work in to get the mom and dad. (Manley) also deserves some credit for getting me there so quickly.”
Dennis said he briefly thought about taking the puppies home, and he received numerous calls from deputies and dispatchers offering to take the puppies.
“My first thought was my wife (Tasha) is going to kill me if I don’t bring them all home,” Dennis said. “If I am a dog lover, she is worse than me. But we have a process we have to go through. They have to go to Animal Control to be checked out.”
Dennis said it is not uncommon for deputies and Animal Control to rescue abandoned dogs.
“It is an unfortunate circumstance that we respond to pretty regularly,” he said. “I hope this reminds people to spay and neuter their pets to help prevent situations like this in the future.”