Sick puppies found in sealed box near a Florida Walmart. ‘We want justice,’ animal officials say
Two puppies were found abandoned near a Bradenton Walmart on Friday, and Manatee County Animal Welfare is searching for the person responsible.
The two 7-week old puppies were left in a sealed box to fend for themselves near a Walmart on 30th Avenue East and 50th Street East, a Facebook post by the agency explained.
Both animals tested positive for canine parvovirus, a highly contagious and deadly disease that mostly afflicts young pups. They also both had a temperature of 106 degrees.
“Their lives were hanging by a thread, but thanks to a caring individual who brought them to us, we were able to rush them to an emergency partner for immediate medical attention,” the MCAW Facebook post reads.
MCAW Division Chief Sarah Brown said in an email to the Bradenton Herald on Tuesday that staff was concerned for their health as soon as they saw the puppies and “knew immediately that their condition was critical.”
The medical team jumped into action, she said, and worked to bring their temperatures down before contacting Lakewood Ranch ER so they “could receive 24-hour emergency care.”
One of the two puppies, Rocky, is now at Bishop Animal Shelter where he is recovering well and is stable. The female puppy, who does not yet have a name, remains at Lakewood Ranch ER where she is in critical condition.
The virus is often fatal for puppies, but with treatment, survival rates are near 90%, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
“We want justice for these puppies. To abandon puppies in this condition is animal cruelty and those responsible need to be held accountable,” Brown wrote.
The agency is now asking the public for help finding whoever is responsible for leaving the puppies.
Anyone who has any information about the abandoned puppies or those involved are asked to reach out to an MCAW officer at 941-742-5933 ext. 1.
“Every clue counts, and your assistance could be the key to bringing justice to these innocent puppies. Let’s stand together against animal cruelty and ensure a brighter future for all animals,” they wrote on Facebook.
