Early Monday morning in Springfield, staff at the Clark County SPCA showed up to work and found a cardboard box sitting outside the shelter. Inside were five puppies that had been tied up and left beneath a sign that reads, “Abandonment is a Crime.” Surveillance video later revealed a truck in the area several hours before the pups were discovered. Shelter workers say the dogs seem relatively healthy, but they will still need deworming and routine veterinary care while they recover.
According to WLWT, shelter staff discovered the box early Monday and reviewed security footage that shows a truck outside about eight hours earlier. The station also reports that the SPCA has put together a wish list of supplies it needs to care for the unexpected arrivals.
Per the Clark County SPCA, the organization is now handling the puppies’ veterinary checks and lining up foster placements while it searches for information about who left them. The shelter runs largely on donations and volunteer help, and staff say after-hours dumping puts extra strain on already limited local rescue resources.
How to help
WLWT notes that the shelter shared a Facebook post listing the items it needs right now to care for the puppies. Anyone able to donate supplies, volunteer as a foster, or contribute financially is encouraged to check that post for details or contact local rescue groups directly to confirm current needs.
Legal note
Abandoning a domestic animal is illegal under Ohio law. The Ohio Revised Code states, “No owner or keeper of a dog, cat, or other domestic animal, shall abandon such animal,” ORC 959.01, and authorities can pursue charges or seek reimbursement for care costs. Ohio Revised Code
Why it matters locally
Rescue groups and county shelters in the area have reported higher intake and tight budgets in recent years, which makes situations like this harder to absorb. In 2021, the Springfield News-Sun reported that Clark County shelters were seeing more stray and returned animals, stretching resources and increasing the need for donations and foster volunteers.
Anyone with information about who left the puppies is asked to contact the Clark County SPCA or local law enforcement. The shelter’s website lists current hours and contact information. Clark County SPCA
