North Sound News

Police investigating animal cruelty after puppies found dead at Monroe home

MONROE, Wash. — A report of a dead dog inside a box at a Monroe home led police to a litter of neglected puppies.

The Monroe Police Department said they were dispatched on Monday to a home in the 15400 block of 182nd Avenue and found a dead black puppy on the porch.

A witness told officers there were more puppies inside the home, but police could not confirm because no one was at the home, police said.

According to police, officers returned to the home the next day and the 30-year-old man living there said there were sick puppies and none of them had been seen by a veterinarian; the man also declined an offer for the three-week-old puppies to be taken to a vet.

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Law enforcement said a search warrant was served for second-degree animal cruelty in their second visit to the home Tuesday.

Two deceased puppies were found, along with seven that were alive and some had “varying degrees of neglect,” police said.

The puppies were taken to the Everett Animal Shelter, where one died overnight.

During the search of the home, police found what appeared to be methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a gun safe, officials said.

Officers said they removed a military-style Springfield Armory rifle that was stolen from a burglary in Granite Falls after they obtained a second search warrant.

The man accused of neglect was booked into the Snohomish County Jail on possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of firearms and possession of a stolen firearm, police said.

According to police, additional charges of animal cruelty are pending an investigation.