At Lake Tahoe, volunteers save puppies thrown in trash moments after birth

Volunteers are nursing six newborn puppies that were thrown away in the trash mere hours after being born, working to save the dogs’ lives.

A man found a box of 10 puppies in a trash bin near a South Lake Tahoe gas station about 2:30 p.m. July 23, said Becky Goodman, executive director of the Pet Network Humane Society.

After making several calls, the man connected with Pet Network and drove the puppies to the Incline Village nonprofit animal shelter.

The dogs arrived about 5:30 p.m., and staffers and volunteers worked into the night to feed them formula and keep them warm, Goodman said.

Four of them eventually died; they were barely three hours old when found. The Pet Network crew searched frantically for foster homes for the six survivors.

“Puppies that small, without a mother to care for them, they have absolutely no immune system, so the shelter is the worst place they can be,” Goodman said Thursday. “It was an absolute emergency; ‘We need help right now,’ we told everyone.”

That evening, three Pet Network board members and another Incline resident stepped up to foster four puppies, Goodman said, while a South Tahoe resident took in the other two.

Pet Network staffers are unsure of the breed of the dogs, which have been dubbed the “Dumpster Babies” by staffers and the community.

“We’re calling them ‘domestic shorthair cuties,’” Goodman said. “They’re only nine days old, so it’s really difficult to tell what mix they are; even our vet is a little stunned right now.”

Volunteers will continue to work 24/7 for the next three weeks or so to nurse the puppies, after which they should be well enough to eat on their own.

“It is going to cost thousands of dollars per animal by the time these guys are old enough to adopt out,” Goodman said. “They’re going to need extensive care.”

Medical expenses for the puppies include vaccination shots, feeding formula, plasma to build their immune systems, special heaters to regulate body temperature and other items, all funded by the Pet Network.

The hope is all six animals will be adopted, Goodman said.

“It was quite a task, but was well worth it,” said Incline resident Madylon Meiling, a member of the Pet Network board of directors.

Pet Network is accepting applications for potential owners for the puppies. To fill out an application, visit petnetwork.org, send an email to info@petnetwork.org or call 775-832-4404.

According to California’s animal-cruelty laws, leaving puppies for dead in a trash bin can be charged as either a felony or misdemeanor.

Punishment can include prison time and/or a fine of up to $20,000 for the felony, and jail time of less than one year and/or a fine of up to $20,000 for the lesser charge.