10 Newborn Pups Thrown Out Vehicle In South OC; Suspect Charged

MISSION VIEJO, CA — 10 newborn puppies were thrown out of a vehicle and left in the bushes, city officials said Wednesday.

The incident was reported at 2:30 a.m. July 24, when a suspect tossed the puppies out of his vehicle and into the bushes next to the road leading to the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center.

Hours later, an animal services volunteer dog walker found the 3-week-old puppies in a vinyl puppy pool.

The puppies were immediately brought back to the shelter, where they were nursed back to health and sent to foster care while an investigation was launched.

According to officials, officers found surveillance video of the suspect discarding the puppies before driving off. While the vehicle's license plate was not visible in the video, Mission Viejo Animal Services officers identified a possible suspect and found the vehicle the next day.

The suspect was contacted and interviewed while the mother dog was found, seized and reunited with her puppies. They are in good health and will be available for adoption soon, the city said.

MVAS will file animal cruelty charges against the suspect with the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

"This disturbing incident serves as a reminder that when residents are faced with the decision of whether or not to relinquish an animal, MVAS has options," City Spokeswoman Kelly Tokarski said. "Even if MVAS doesn't have available room to accept the relinquished animals, the center has relationships with many organizations that can assist with placing pets."