7.12.2011

Woman ties puppies to fence outside Southern Pines Animal Shelter

Source: Hattiesburg American
Hattiesburg, MS
07.12.11

Unfortunate local event that led to the suicide of one puppy and euthanization of its 10 siblings.  Why in the world could she not have waited until the next day when it was open?!  Ridiculous, nice job ma'am.

The article has been copied here for your convenience:
HPD seeks woman who tied puppies to shelter fence
Southern Pines Animal Shelter and the Hattiesburg Police Department are looking for a woman who tied 11 puppies to a fence at the shelter Sunday night.

Shelter employee Elizabeth Swann said one of the puppies hanged itself during the night, and the other 10 had to be euthanized because of the injuries sustained from being tied to the fence.


"We showed up for work at 7:30 in the morning (Monday)," Swann said. "They had been tied with plastic twine - each and every one of them had it tied around their neck tight to the fence."


Shelter manager Lara Hudson said she had to euthanize the other 10 shepherd mix puppies Monday.
"(They) had their collars embedded so far into their necks that they weren't savable," she said.


Hudson said the woman who tied the puppies to the fence was caught on videotape. She said a police report has been filed with the Hattiesburg Police Department.


HPD spokesman Lt. Eric Proulx said the report is currently filed as a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge, but that the report has yet to be officially approved.


He said the report states that a white female with brown hair who is approximately 250 pounds was seen on the tape tying the puppies to the fence.


The misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
A new state law passed in the 2011 legislative session changes the rules on how animal cruelty cases are prosecuted as they relate to domesticated cats and dogs.


The new law states anyone who intentionally tortures, burns, starves or disfigures a dog or cat can be charged with aggravated cruelty, which would remain a misdemeanor on a first offense. Another offense within five years would be a felony.



"I wish there were stronger laws in the state of Mississippi to protect from this," Hudson said. "This was a hideous, horrible crime."


The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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