Several puppies have been reportedly left along Edmund Jones Road with no identification.
Residents have started taking in the abandoned animals, and set up cameras to catch whoever is responsible, Jodi LaBelle said, who gave one of the puppies a home.
“These little puppies are being thrown out by the road, then showing up on our doorsteps. This is horrid; people should take them to a shelter,” LaBelle said via a social media message to the Item.
Pearl River County Animal Control Officer Danny Joe Slade recovered one of the abandoned puppies on Wednesday and transported it to the Pearl River County SPCA, he said.
If caught, those responsible for dumping animals could be charged with a misdemeanor for abandonment and cruelty, Slade said.
“As long as it’s in Pearl River County, they can be brought to us at no charge,” Pearl River County SPCA Public Relations Director Maria Diamond said, though the facility’s staff appreciates donations to help care for the animals.
To ensure there is space available, it’s best to call ahead before dropping off any lost or unwanted pet, Diamond said.