A bookbag found on the side of the road in Youngstown, Ohio, contained nearly a dozen dead puppies, according to the local humane society.
Youngstown police dispatched Animal Charity of Ohio’s humane agents to the city’s northside in response to the abandoned bookbag, according to a Facebook post from the nonprofit organization around 3:30 p.m. on Monday.
According to the Humane Society, 11 puppies were found dead inside the bookbag.
“These puppies are tragically 11 more victims of the ongoing animal abuse and neglect in the city of Youngstown,” the charity’s social media post reads.
USA TODAY contacted the Animal Charity of Ohio on Wednesday but did not receive a response.
‘Heartbreaking and traumatizing for our team’
Jane MacMurchy, executive director of Animal Charity of Ohio, told USA TODAY that the bookbag was discovered by a person walking near downtown Youngstown on Monday afternoon.
“The puppies were very young, maybe around 10 days old,” MacMurchy told Fox 8 News.
According to Fox 8 News, the mixed-breed puppies’ ears were still developing because they were so young. At this point, the charity organization told the Cleveland, Ohio-based TV station that it couldn’t say how the puppies died or how long they were in the bookbag on the side of the road.
Because the backpack is unique due to the numerous patches attached to its outside, the nonprofit hopes that someone will recognize it and tell them who it belongs to, Fox 8 News reported.
“It’s also heartbreaking and traumatizing for our team,” MacMurchy told the station.
Although MacMurchy told WFMJ that the nonprofit has seen an increase in abandonment rates, the highest since COVID, she said the situation on Monday is “never come across.”
“Unfortunately, we are still investigating this terrible situation,” she told USA TODAY. “We are still asking for anyone with information about who could have done this to contact our organization.”
