Boy, mother could face charges in alleged abuse of six-week-old puppies



FOND DU LAC (WITI) -- An eight-year-old Fond du Lac boy and his mother could face charges in a case involving the alleged abuse of six-week-old puppies.

Fond du Lac police on Saturday, February 22nd were alerted to a puppy found doused in bleach, inside a garbage bag in a dumpster at an apartment complex on Martin Road.

Officers discovered two additional puppies and two adult dogs inside an apartment there.

The three puppies discovered on Saturday are six-week-old American Staffordshire Terriers.

Officials with the Fond du Lac County Humane Society say its phone has been ringing off the hook since Saturday -- with folks looking for an update on the puppy named "Ike" -- the only puppy not injured in this incident.

"He seems to have avoided this incident altogether," Shelter Manager Renee Webb said.

Ike's sister's eyes are swollen. She has ulcers in her mouth and on her tongue.

Her brother is in worse shape -- with similar injuries and chemical burns.

"At any point, either one of their lungs could just quit," Webb said.

Webb says Ike's brother and sister were doused with bleach.

FOX6 News spoke with a woman on Monday, February 24th who says she was watching the puppies for her ex-boyfriend.

She says she believes her eight-year-old son was bitten by a puppy, and splashed what he thought was water onto the dogs.

The boy then placed one dog in a bag, and threw it away.

"We're talking about bleach, which is caustic. It's not...it's not good," Webb said.

The injured puppies, Ike's brother and sister, are currently receiving near constant care at a foster home -- but it is unclear whether they will survive. Humane Society officials say the next five to seven days will prove critical for these puppies.

The Fond du Lac County Humane Society says it has fielded at least a half dozen calls from folks looking to adopt Ike.

Additionally, Humane Society officials say folks have stopped by to drop off dog food -- and officials point to at least $1,500 received via online donations on Monday alone.

"It has everyone absolutely touched. Thank you. Thank you very much," Webb said.

CLICK HERE to access the Fond du Lac County Humane Society's website.