Michigan: Jogger in park finds box full of 19 abandoned puppies in urine-soaked cardboard box

MICHIGAN -- A woman in Michigan discovered a box full of 19 puppies while out for a jog in a park.

Julie Newman was jogging on Northville Road in Hines Park about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday when she heard "little yelps" and noticed movement inside a cardboard box.

"I could hear little yelps," she said. "And then I saw a box that was moving."

She found 19 abandoned puppies climbing over each other and trying to escape a urine-soaked box. Newman, who has two rescue dogs of her own, called her sister and they took the puppies to the Humane Society.

"I'm just heartbroken," Newman said. "I just don't understand how anyone could do this."

The nine male and 10 female puppies, believed to be pit bull terrier mixed breed, received medical care upon arriving at the humane society and will be available for adoption once their treatment is completed. Some of the puppies were suffering from dehydration.

The Humane Society of Huron Valley is seeking information about the person who abandoned the puppies.

"It's hard to say why someone would dump puppies in a park. But there is no good reason for such a careless act. This is exactly why animal shelters exist -- to provide safety and care to animals in need," HSHV CEO Tanya Hilgendorf said. "We don't ever want to see animals, especially babies, abandoned in the cold, left to fend for themselves.

"Thanks to a compassionate community member willing to take action, these innocent puppies will get the help they deserve. When they're ready, they'll be adopted into loving homes -- but first spayed or neutered to help ensure this doesn't happen again."

(UPI - Dec 30, 2016)