CCTV Captures Moment Critically Ill Puppies Are Dumped Outside Shelter

Newsweek

01-08-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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The Pennsylvania SPCA are seeking help after a box of severely ill puppies were abandoned outside the ACCT Philly shelter last week.
Security footage captured from the shelter parking lot at approximately 2:15 p.m. on July 24 showed the moment two people pulled into the shelter's parking lot, leaving a box near the entrance before driving away.
When staff looked inside the cardboard box, they were shocked by what was inside. It contained two six-to-eight-week-old puppies suffering from terrible wounds and covered in maggots.
ACCT Philly contacted the Pennsylvania SPCA's Animal Law Enforcement team, and the puppies were transferred to the PSPCA's hospital immediately.
The puppies were in a "critical" state when they arrived and were quickly rushed to get medical help. Gillian Kocher, director of public relations at the PSPCA, told Newsweek: "The puppies had open wounds, some necrotic and were infested with maggots throughout their bodies."
Pictures from the security footage of the dog drop off.
Pictures from the security footage of the dog drop off.
Pennsylvania SPCA
The puppies, believed to be shepherd or husky mixes, were transferred to the Pennsylvania SPCA's hospital. One required emergency care at an off-site facility but both are now showing signs of improvement.
"The puppies are not anywhere near being ready for adoption. We are still doing everything we can do ensure they survive. That is our main focus at this time," Kocher said. "We do hope that when they are stable enough, they are able to go into foster care to continue their recovery."
According to the 2024 Shelter Animals Count Annual Report, approximately 5.77 million dogs and cats entered shelters and rescues across the United States through community intakes, which excludes animals transferred from other organizations.
Of these, about 60 percent, or roughly 3.46 million animals, were found as strays, making stray intake the leading cause of shelter entries. This included approximately 1.7 million stray dogs and 1.79 million stray cats.
Currently, the Pennsylvania SPCA Animal Law Enforcement team are working to try and established the details around the case.
In a post on Facebook, the SPCA urged anyone with any information to come forward in helping to identify the people who left the animals at the shelter, hoping to ensure no other animals are in danger, and learn more about where the puppies came from.
"An investigation is underway which is why we are working to identify the individuals in question," Kocher said.
Anyone with information about the individuals in the footage is asked to contact the Pennsylvania SPCA's Humane Law Enforcement cruelty hotline at 866-601-7722 or email [e-mail]. Tips can be left anonymously.