Gaston County Animal Care and Enforcement says a woman abandoned eight newborn puppies in a box at the agency’s old shelter building earlier this week, then walked away. Staff found the pups a few hours later and rushed them into care. In a social media post, the agency wrote that the person who left them "they did not care." The litter is now under shelter care and will need round-the-clock feedings and monitoring.
County officials also shared a photo of a handwritten sign left at the scene and asked the public to help identify the woman who abandoned the litter. Eight tiny puppies were found and rescued by shelter staff a few hours after they were dumped, as reported by WCNC.
Where They Were Left
The box was left outside the agency’s former Animal Care and Enforcement building on West Main Avenue in Gastonia. The county’s shelter operations have since moved and now run out of 1491 Business Park Court. The Animal Care and Enforcement page lists both shelter addresses and the non-emergency tip line used to collect leads, as shown on Gaston County Animal Care and Enforcement.
Puppies' Condition and Care
Shelter staff said the newborns were "left to freeze or starve" and described them as tiny and highly vulnerable. Newborn puppies generally need to nurse or be bottle-fed every two to three hours, which makes orphaned litters especially time-intensive to care for, according to WebMD. The agency said it was providing bottle feedings and basic medical checks as the litter stabilizes, as reported by WCNC.
Legal Consequences
Abandoning animals is prohibited under North Carolina law and falls under the state’s animal-cruelty statutes. Abandonment can be charged as a misdemeanor under the criminal code, which gives authorities a statutory basis to pursue charges when the facts support criminal conduct, per the state legislature.
How to Help
Anyone with information is asked to call Gaston County non-emergency dispatch at 704-866-3300. The county's animal division lists that number and its social channels on its contact page. Officials have asked that people who saw the incident or who have video share tips with investigators.
Local Context
Gaston County law enforcement and animal-care officers have investigated other serious cruelty cases in recent years, including a multi-animal seizure tied to an alleged dogfighting operation, illustrating the range of cases animal control can face. Shelters and advocates say surrendering unwanted animals through official channels helps ensure animals get care and reduces the risk of dangerous dumpings like this one.
