Puppies die after being rescued from cage covered with blanket in Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – A woman is speaking out after she says she tried to rescue two puppies allegedly found in neglected conditions at a business in Fresno.

Nicole Slade says it all started on May 5 when she came across a post on Facebook about puppies allegedly being kept in a cage and covered by a tarp at a business near Floradora and First Avenues.

Slade says after seeing that post, she decided to go to the area to attempt to find the puppies.

She says after arriving, she heard the cries of dogs and noticed what looked like a covered box inside the business. According to Slade, she had to jump the fence to get inside the business and reach the puppies, as it was a day the business was closed.

Once inside, Slade says to her horror she found two puppies inside of a wired crate, with no food or water, and covered by a thick comforter blanket. The bottom of the crate had a piece of cardboard as a floorboard, covered in urine and feces.

Slade says she immediately took the puppies to a local veterinary clinic where they determined the female puppies were around 4-6 months old.

“They were covered in ticks and malnourished. The gold puppy, the stomach was distended from worms and stuff, so we de-wormed them and gave them vaccinations,” Slade said.

She says the business owner told her he was unaware of the dogs and that they did not belong to him, after being contacted the following day.

After being de-wormed and showered, Slade says the dogs seemed playful and in good spirits.

“There was a show when I was younger called Laverne and Shirley, so that’s what I had named them.”

Nicole says unfortunately one of the puppies passed due to parvo on the second day, with the second puppy following only two days later.

Slade advises if anyone were to come across a similar situation to please reach out for help.

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