Conn. Officers Rescue 8 Puppies on Christmas Eve

BRANFORD, Conn. --

Eight newborn puppies were rescued by two Branford police officers in the early-morning hours of Christmas Eve, police said.

Police said officers Phil Ramey and Joseph Peterson were conducting surveillance of several businesses and motels when they saw a man emerge from a motel room carrying a cooler.

“He watched as the man aimlessly began walking around the side of the roadway and the officer became suspicious,” said Sgt. Gregory Watrous of the Branford Police Department. “When he stopped the man for identification, he learned that there were seven newborn puppies in the airtight cooler.”

Police said they believe the man was unable to care for the puppies and was looking for a place to discard them. They said another puppy was found in the motel room with the puppies’ mother.

All of the dogs were taken to the State Street Animal Hospital in New Haven for evaluation.

“I think we gave these guys an early Christmas present,” Peterson said. “They wouldn’t have survived in this cold weather.”

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