HAMILTON — Six puppies are receiving care after police found eight severely undernourished dogs in an outdoor cage on the east Hamilton Mountain Tuesday afternoon. Two of the puppies died.

Hamilton Police Service said officers were called to a residence at about 1:30 p.m. on October 13 after a tree-removal worker nearby saw puppies in distress and reported the situation.

Officers found several puppies unresponsive

Police said the eight puppies appeared severely undernourished. Several were unresponsive, and one appeared to have died before officers arrived.

Officers gave water to the surviving puppies, contacted Hamilton Animal Control and Ontario’s Provincial Animal Welfare Services, and transported the animals to an emergency veterinary clinic. Police said a second puppy was pronounced dead at the clinic and the remaining six received veterinary care.

The police release did not identify the puppies’ breed, ages or current medical prognosis. Those details should not be inferred from the illustrative lead photograph used with this article.

Provincial service takes over investigation

Hamilton police said the homeowner was contacted and has been cooperative. Provincial Animal Welfare Services has taken over the investigation.

No charge or enforcement order was announced in the police release. An investigation does not establish that an offence occurred or that any person is responsible.

Ontario’s Animal Welfare Services enforces the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act. The province says inspectors can investigate reports, issue compliance orders, relieve animal distress and lay charges where evidence supports enforcement.

How to report an animal-welfare concern

Ontario operates a 24-hour Animal Protection Call Centre at 1-833-9-ANIMAL (1-833-926-4625). The province advises calling 911 when an animal’s life is in immediate danger.

TNC will update this report if police or provincial investigators announce charges, release information about the surviving puppies’ condition or identify another material development.

Sources

Lead image: public-domain file photograph of two puppies by C. E. Price, via Wikimedia Commons. Illustrative image; it does not show the Hamilton puppies, their breed or their condition.