Puppies abandoned, duct taped in cardboard box
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SAVANNAH, Tenn. — Surveillance cameras captured a crime outside Hardin County Animal Services Sunday night. Seven puppies were left on the sidewalk duct taped inside a cardboard box. Employees said those seven puppies are lucky to be alive. “I was just rushing because I knew when I heard that crying, ‘oh God, there’s puppies in there,” employee Jessica Cocchi said. Cocchi was stopping by the shelter off hours Sunday to check on the animals when she noticed the box on the sidewalk. Surveillance video shows two people drive in around 5:30 Sunday evening when the passenger quickly drops the box of puppies on the curb. “It was completely duct taped. I mean, here’s some of the duct tape still on it,” Cocchi said. Cocchi said if left overnight she’s afraid the puppies may not have made it. “It was freezing out last night already by the time I found it, and it was only in the 40s then.” Manager Charlie Nickle said doing this could end with criminal charges of abandonment for the two. “Tennessee state law prohibits the abandonment of animals regardless of the location,” Nickle said. Nickle said the surveillance video will be handed off to the sheriff’s department. “You can not just come in and indiscriminately dump your animals on the front door step.” The shelter charges an $8 abandonment fee if someone leaves an animal. Nickle believes that could have been the reason the dogs were left during off-hours. He said the seven puppies will be ready for adoption by the end of the week. The adoption fee is $50.
