DESTREHAN – Eleven two-month-old puppies were stuffed into a plastic container wired shut and set behind Ormond Shopping Center. There was a note on top of the container to adopt them. However, being sealed in a Tupperware container, it seemed unlikely they would be found in time.

An employee from one of the stores did find them and took the container to Bayou Pet Store, where proprietor Bryan Long opened the container and immediately called LeeAnn Matherne, supervisor of the St. Charles Animal Shelter.

The puppies were sweating profusely; severely dehydrated and all of them were riddled with mange, worms and fleas. The pups spent the night at the pet store and were taken to the shelter the next day. Dr. Sophie Hudson, St. Charles Humane Society Veterinarian at the St. Charles Animal Shelter is treating them.

Whoever abandoned the puppies could have easily brought these puppies to the shelter and surrendered them without provocation, commented Donna Nassar of the St. Charles Humane Society. They would have had the choice to spay their female at a reduced rate or even free.

There is a $1,000 reward from citizens of the parish for the arrest and conviction of this person(s). Anyone who knows who had these puppies, are urged to come forward before more harm is done; hopefully there are no children in this household to be targets, too.

It was obvious that they were not around humans very much and are now being socialized with the shelter employees and volunteers at the shelter. The lucky ones who survived will make wonderful companions.

“It is disgusting that someone would do something so cruel and totally unnececssary when we have a shelter to bring these puppies,” Nasser said.