By Jake Richardson

An Ohio man was caught after leaving six puppies in a suitcase he placed near a business in his hometown. He abandoned them because he was moving to a different residence, but left a tag on the suitcase with his name and address, so it was easy for authorities to find him. He was charged with two counts of abandonment. One abandonment charge was for the mother and the other for the puppies, as if each puppy’s life was not worth a charge. (The mother and puppies were taken to the Toledo Area Humane Society and are healthy.)

It appears zipping up six puppies in a suitcase would also warrant a cruelty charge, because of the possibility of oxygen-deprivation, keeping them in the same place where they would urinate and defecate and not allowing them access to water and food.

The maximum penalty for the abandonment charges is six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Generally speaking, Ohio is not known for strict animal protection laws, so if he had done the same thing in another state, the penalties might have been much stiffer.

Situations like these are classic examples of why neutering and spaying pets is so important. Many people who are able to take care of one adult pet become financially overwhelmed if the pet gets pregnant and gives birth to a litter, which necessitates constant attention, cleaning, vet care and more space.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/six-puppies-left-in-suitcase.html#ixzz1rxA7qBuG