CAPE POLICE RECOVER TWO PUPPIES FROM GARAGE OF VACANT HOUSE

Cape Girardeau police retrieved two abandoned puppies from the garage of a vacant in Cape Girardeau Saturday.

Two puppies, a German shepherd mix and a cocker spaniel mix, were removed from the garage of a vacant house at 2424 Melrose animal control officer Aaron Baughn. Police responded to a call from a person who wished to remain anonymous that dogs had been heard barking in the garage. The caller said the residents had moved a few days earlier. Baughn estimated the puppies had been locked in the garage for two to three days."It's a case of animal neglect," Baughn said. "It's not really that severe, but the puppies have been left unattended, and provisions haven't been made for their safety and welfare."A bag of oil absorbent was in the garage which could have been toxic to the dogs if they had eaten it. There was no food and very little water for the puppies when Baughn arrived."Pups this young -- they're only six or eight weeks old -- if they're hungry, they're going to get into it and chew on it," Baughn said. "Just because they don't have food right now doesn't mean they haven't been fed or cared for." The puppies were impounded at the Humane Society, and efforts are being made to contact the former tenants of the house.