Requests pile up to adopt river pups
Uxbridge Police receive barrage of inquiries about abandoned dogs as investigation continues
UXBRIDGE – Responding to an avalanche of requests from the public, Uxbridge police Wednesday said the six puppies that were tied up in a bag and dumped into the Blackstone River last Sunday will not be ready for adoption for at least six weeks.
Both the Police Department and Uxbridge Animal Control Officer Kevin Sullivan have been inundated with phone calls and emails from would-be adopters ever since news of the puppies’ dramatic rescue by kayakers spread across social media late last Sunday.
“The puppies are not available for adoption at this time and therefore we are asking people not to contact the Uxbridge animal control officer or the police department with regards to adoption,” police said in an updated post on the department’s Facebook page. “We will post right here on our Facebook page when and if they will be available for adop- tion.”
But because the puppies are less than a week old, they may not be ready to be adopted for another six to eight weeks, police said.
Meanwhile, police are continuing their search for the person or persons responsible for dumping the puppies. Police say they are interested in identifying and speaking with a man who was seen riding a mountain bike in the area Sunday between 11:30 a.m.
and 1 p.m., which is the time investigators believe the puppies were discarded.
Animal cruelty can carry a sevenyear prison sentence and or a $5,000 fine under Massachusetts state law. In 2016, the FBI announced it had added animal cruelty to its list of felony crimes, such as burglary, assault and homicide.
Anyone with any information that might lead to the apprehension of the person or persons responsible for the crime can contact Det. Steven Prior or Officer Benjamin Smoot at (508) 278-7755.
The puppies were discovered by two kayakers Sunday afternoon at around 1 p.m. when they heard whimpering and saw a half-submerged grain bag stuck on the side of the river on River Road where they had been left for dead.
Police responding to the scene opened the bag and found three male and three female puppies believed to be a lab mix and all less than a week old. One of the puppies, the runt of the litter, ingested mud and water, but was able to expel it.
When Sullivan arrived at the scene he took possession of the puppies and had them checked out by a veterinarian on Monday. As of Wednesday, the puppies were all doing well and were being bottle fed and cared for by Sullivan until they are able to be adopted.
The Police Department posted a heart-wrenching picture of the puppies on Facebook Sunday. Calling it a “heinous” act, police wrote that they were looking for the “low life” responsible. That initial post on Facebook Sunday has generated more than 5,000 responses and comment and more than 6,000 shares.
“We are overwhelmed by the responses with regards to the puppies found Sunday,” the department said. “We have such a caring and great community and we appreciate everyone’s outpouring support and concern for the puppies.”
In response to the hundreds of requests from people offering finan- cial assistance, police said monetary donations to help the puppies or any other animal in need of a home can send a check to Uxbridge Regional Animal Control Gift Account, 275 Douglas St., Uxbridge, Mass. 01569.
“We would like to remind everyone to please consider the many, many dogs looking for loving homes in the many area shelters here locally and beyond,” the department said.