Ten puppies rescued after being thrown from a vehicle near a Mission Viejo animal shelter last month will soon be up for adoption, officials said.
A suspect threw the puppies from a vehicle into some bushes around 2:30 a.m. July 24 near the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center, the city said in a statement Wednesday.
Hours later, a volunteer dog walker found the pups, who were lucky to survive the night in what officials described as “coyote territory,” in a vinyl pool.
The puppies were just three weeks old. Authorities recommend that puppies and kittens remain with their mothers until they are at least twice that age.
Animal Services staff nursed the puppies back to health and sent them to a foster caregiver. Surveillance video from the facility captured an image of the suspect, who was later interviewed by Mission Viejo police.
Mission Viejo Animal Services will file animal cruelty charges against the alleged owner with the Orange County District Attorney's Office, officials said.
The dogs' mother, Holly, was “located, captured and quickly reunited with all of her puppies,” the city said.
All dogs are healthy and will soon be available for adoption.
Those who are unable to care for their pets can surrender them at the local animal shelter.
