The investigation began as a “complaint of the sounds of kittens coming from a garbage can.”
When officers with the Marshfield Police Department in Wisconsin arrived on scene back on Feb. 28, they found eight newborn puppies stuffed in a garbage bag and thrown in the trash container.
The incident was only made public in a Facebook post this week.
It’s not clear how long they were in the bin, but police said the dumpster dogs are doing well.
Investigators were grateful to the tipster for helping save the lives of the pups.
The dogs were taken to the Marshfield Area Pet Shelter.
“The puppies are safe and in foster care,” the shelter said later in a Facebook update. “Mom is with her pups in our foster home.”
Police arrested 56-year-old Robert M. Wild.
He was charged with a misdemeanor offences of “mistreatment of animals and abandonment of animals.”
The puppies are doing well and may be up for adoption in the next few months.
For now, the shelter is focused on fundraising and taking care of the dogs.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out, but at this time we’re not able to comment about the case,” the shelter said.
