Puppies Abandoned In Suitcase Now In High Demand

A suitcase of puppies found abandoned in Ohio has prompted hundreds of calls looking to adopt the baby bulldogs.

TOLEDO, Ohio -- Six bulldog-mix puppies stuffed into a suitcase and abandoned next to a trash bin won't be homeless for long.

Hundreds of people from around the country – some willing to camp out just to be first in line – have contacted an animal shelter in hopes of adopting the month-old pups.

It will be a few weeks before the puppies are ready for adoption so they're now doing just fine at an undisclosed foster home, said John Dinon, director of the Toledo Area Humane Society. He didn't want to reveal their whereabouts.

"As far as I'm concerned, they're in witness protection," he said.

The man accused of abandoning the three female and three male puppies appeared in court Friday and pleaded not guilty to abandoning the animals. A judge said he would appoint a public defender for Howard Davis of Toledo.

Authorities said a luggage tag with Davis' contact information on the suitcase led them to him. Passers-by had discovered the dogs last week in an alley soon after they were dumped, authorities said.

Davis, 53, could face jail time or a fine if he's convicted.

He would not comment to media outlets after the hearing. A Humane Society officer said that Davis told him that he had given the dogs to someone in Michigan and had not abandoned them, Dinon said.

Even though many of those who want to adopt the pups are from out of state, the shelter will only give them to people who apply at its office and go through the normal screening process "despite requests to put them on a plane and send them all over," Dinon said.

The shelter might announce a date when the pups will be available because there's so much interest. A few people even want to camp out, said Dinon, who wasn't sure whether police would allow that to happen.

"It's like Rolling Stones tickets," he said.

Those who won't get a shot at rescuing the pups should go to their own local shelter, Dinon said. "There's no shortage of cute puppies," he said.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the puppies were abandoned at an airport. We regret the error.

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Comments

[LCfield90]

01:11 AM on 04/21/2012

Well at least the guy abandoned them in a suitcase instead of just throwing them into a river and letting them drown or disposing of them in another fatal manner...at least they were found and will now be able to find loving homes.

[jgfsmf]

11:23 AM on 04/17/2012

Oh man, and I thought the picture was cute, now we have a video. The puppy with the spot on to of it's head, awwww.

[onelife jl]

03:38 PM on 04/16/2012

Why don't stories about foster children ever get this kind of reaction? Really.

[Widespread Panic]

02:19 PM on 04/16/2012

Ohhhh they are cutie pies! I would love to have one!!!

[Carla van der Meer]

01:10 PM on 04/16/2012

I am glad to see that these little tykes will have a happy life, even if they started out with a dog hating fool.

[kmclawson70]

12:54 AM on 04/16/2012

They are so adorable, but I have a Boxer who would have issues with me if I adopted something that maybe could be cuter than him! I know though that they will go to good homes where they will get all the love and attention that my Zach does!

[sparkybrown7877]

03:39 PM on 04/14/2012

Who in their right mind stuff 6 puppies in a suitcase anyway? To give or to abandon? Thank gawd they are ok! And I hope they go to good homes.

[Eileen Gavitt Lester]

03:18 PM on 04/14/2012

All animals in shelters should be in high demand! They will die simply for being homeless. Spay and neuter your pets!

[raegrant5]

02:34 PM on 04/14/2012

I have been waiting to read this article because it makes me cry to think someone is so heartless! He could have gone to the front of the local grocery market and given them away in a heartbeat! I live in the country and people drop unwanted animals off out here all the time. I have 8 dogs now so when people drop them off my male dogs run them off or kill them before we even know they were dropped off. I have put notices in my local paper but I don't think anyone cares.

[tigerlady767]

01:30 PM on 04/14/2012

I have always gotten my animals from the local shelter. They make the best animals, because they seem to know that they have gotten a second chance at life. My puppy is 7 months old now, but he was only 3 months when I found him at the shelter, I have made sure that he's gotten all of his shots and he will be neutered in a few weeks as well. He is well loved and cared for and I am looking forward to spending the next 15 to 20 years with my pup. He will not be a small dog, he is a yellow lab mix but he is exactly what I was looking for when I went to the shelter.

[Marisol Reilly]

01:12 PM on 04/14/2012

I read this on Thursday and was just livid that someone could do this to these defenseless puppies and their mommy. This is great news. They're already loved by so many...Very heartwarming outcome...What a bunch of cuties...

[DoggieMom]

12:29 PM on 04/14/2012

I want 'em all!!!! So adorable!

[DSevere]

10:22 AM on 04/14/2012

Glad they're going to get a good home! Shelter animals are the best -- we have 3 rescued dogs, a chow mix and two pit mixes, and they and have brought so much joy, love and fun into our lives.

[Over the BS]

09:31 AM on 04/14/2012

What the hell is wrong with people?!?!?! Stories like these make me loose a little bit of whats left of my faith in humanity every day.

Im grateful they were found and in good health. The outcome could have been disastrous. And the guy being interviewed is right....shelters are full of cute puppies and dogs (cats too) just waiting for a forever home

[emberbb]

09:04 AM on 04/14/2012

This breaks my heart, they are so adorable, and need time to grow and get used to humans. Boy, if I lived nearby, I'd be first in line. Commenters - there are beautiful dogs and cats of all ages and breeds at your local shelter. In fact, some pedigrees can be found there. Also, there are all types of adoption groups for specific animals. Try the internet, call your local shelter, but please adopt. Next month I will celebrate 12 years with my pet from a shelter. Unfortunately, she has cancer, had surgery, and is doing well all things considered. She lost 40 % of her regular weight, and due to some medical problems, cannot retain most of the food she eats. The reason for the low weight, which was a constant once she was diagnosed. My only pet ever and I am an older person. Adopted her when she was 1.5 years old and she is a real learning experience. Good vet, good staff makes it a little easier. Costly but she is worth it - my fur baby is family, so she gets first class everything.

[Over the BS]

09:34 AM on 04/14/2012

I feel the same way...I don't care what it would cost me, I'd do everything I can to get him medical care. Im sorry to hear about her diagnosis. Hope she gets through this and brings you many more years of joy.