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Reward offered after litter of puppies intentionally burned to death

The puppies were only eight days old

Michelle Del Rey
Wednesday 31 July 2024 23:55 BST
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The Humane Society of the United States is offering a $5,000 reward following the death of 13 puppies which were ā€˜intentionally burned’ officials said
The Humane Society of the United States is offering a $5,000 reward following the death of 13 puppies which were ā€˜intentionally burned’ officials said (Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control)

A $5,000 reward has been offered after a litter of puppies were intentionally burned to death, officials say.

Thirteen puppies were discovered by a resident of Lexington, Kentucky on May 29 at the intersection of Todds Road and North Cleveland.

Seven puppies died at the scene in the ā€œintentional burningā€, according to a news release from the Humane Society of the United States, which is offering the reward.

The rest succumbed to their injuries at a local vet’s office. The puppies were only eight days old.

The Humane Society of the United States is offering a $5,000 reward following the death of 13 puppies who officials said were ā€œintentionally burnedā€
The Humane Society of the United States is offering a $5,000 reward following the death of 13 puppies who officials said were ā€œintentionally burnedā€ (Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control)

ā€œIt’s heartbreaking to even imagine what horrendous torture these puppies went through at only eight days old,ā€ state director of the Humane Society, Todd Blevins, said.

ā€œThere is no excuse for this kind of cruelty. We hope our reward helps find the perpetrator of this despicable act.ā€

Lieutenant Jai Hamilton with Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control told the humane society that she plans to file thirteen felony counts of animal cruelty in the first-degree against the people responsible. The Independent emailed Hamilton for comment.

No other details about the crimes have been released. In a video posted on the Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control’s Facebook page, some of the puppies can be seen on a person’s lap after they were rescued. One of the puppies has visible burn marks on its neck.

Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to contact the city’s animal control agency.

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