Burned puppies on the mend, await new homes

RALEIGH, North Carolina -- Nearly two weeks ago, the Johnston County Animal Shelter (JCAS) received four puppies that were surrendered to them. Three of the four Labrador-mix pups have severe burns to their backs.

JCAS later reached out to SPCA of Wake County, who later referred them to Care First Animal Hospital for medical attention.

In an email sent to ABC11, a representative for SPCA of Wake County writes: "We do not know the exact cause of the burns, but it is possible that somebody did this intentionally or that the puppies walked under a grill or piece of equipment of some sort and hot grease/liquid dripped on them."

After receiving medical attention, the puppies were then placed in foster care until they are healthy enough for adoption.

"I wish I could say it was a unique situation but this is a yearly and sometimes year-round occurrence where we see animals that are suffering from either abandonment or neglect," said SPCA director of development Mondy Lamb. "We take them into our shelter and we heal them up and pretty soon they'll be available to the public."

According to SPCA, the foster family named the four puppies Chipmunk, Skunk, Marlin, and Zebra. Their next checkup is Monday.

If they pass their test, they will then be scheduled for surgery to be neutered. Once neutered, the puppies will then be available at SPCA's adoption center on a first-come, first-served basis.

A representative expects the puppies to be adopted into a forever home within two weeks.

"Everything takes an emotional toll but the big balancing act in that is that we get to see these animals heal and see them re-homed," Lamb says. "So that emotional toll is balanced by this incredible happy ending."

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