COLUMBUS, Ind. — Bartholomew County Humane Society shelter director Kirsten Vantwoud can't begin to wrap her head around how anyone could be so insensitive.
Surveillance video appears to show a person wearing a hoodie get out of a black truck with a box in hand. The person quickly walks to the entrance of the shelter and places a box in front of the doors. They return to their car and drive off.
Vantwoud said the box was full of puppies.
"We came in to find a box, like a big paper towel box, with five very young, 4- to 5-week-old pit bull puppies. No bedding, no food, no water. Just dumped in a box," Vantwoud said.
She said she can't understand why anyone would do it.
"That man had actually dumped them on Sunday at 2 p.m., so they were out overnight in the cold, without their mom. We found them the next morning," Vantwoud said.
She said it's not the only time animals have been illegally dumped in front of their doors, and that 11 puppies and kittens have been left that way since Nov. 8.
"People often say 'at least they dumped them at the shelter.' That's not OK. It's not OK to dump an animal anywhere at any time. Besides, it's inhumane and it's illegal," Vantwoud said.
That's why they've decided to get law enforcement involved to hold those individuals accountable. They've also asked the sheriff's department to increase patrols around the area.
"We are just concerned people are coming at times where they obviously know we are not going to be there," Vantwoud said. "Or they're dumping animals on property that is close by to us. Those property owners don't want that happening either."
Like most shelters, the Bartholomew County Humane Society is already full, but Vantwoud said all shelters have resources and opportunities for people who need help. It all starts with calling the shelter first.