Police: Pups saved from river doing well
UXBRIDGE – Six newborn puppies that were tied up in a bag and dumped into the Blackstone River in Uxbridge last month are reported to be happy, healthy and playful and should be old enough for permanent homes in about four weeks.
The Uxbridge Police Department issued an update Thursday morning, saying the growing puppies, now about five weeks old, could be ready for their forever homes by the middle of November.
A puppy usually goes into a new home at seven to nine weeks of age.
“All six puppies are doing extremely well as our animal control official continues to care for them until they are eligible for adoption in another four weeks,” the department said in a statement.
The department says it continues to receive “countless” phone calls and emails from would-be adopters ever since news of the puppies’ dramatic rescue by kayakers spread across social media late last month. Police Chief Jeffrey A. Lourie is reminding people once again not to call the department or the animal control office, saying an adoption plan will be posted on the police department’s Facebook page in about two weeks.
Contributions in the form of money and supplies have been pour- ing into the Uxbridge Regional Animal Control Gift Account, which was set up to help both the puppies and other unwanted animals being cared for by the animal control department.
“We would like to thank all those that have supported the investigation and gift account to care for the puppies and future neglected animals that need care,” police said.
In the meantime, the department has released a short video of the puppies on Facebook.
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is still offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the crime.
“It takes a disturbing lack of empathy to pack six newborn puppies into a bag and drop them in a river to drown,” PETAVice
President Colleen O’Brien said two weeks ago. “Whoever did this is dangerous, and PETA urges anyone with information about this case to come forward immediately so that the perpetrator can be stopped from hurting anyone else.”
Meanwhile, Uxbridge police are continuing their investigation and are urging anyone who may have information to contact the department. Anyone with information that might lead to the apprehension of the person or persons responsible is asked to contact Det. Steven Prior or Officer Benjamin Smoot at (508) 278-7755.
The puppies were discovered by two kayakers on Sept. 24 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.
In response to the hundreds of requests from people offering financial 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.