53 Puppies Died In Missouri When A Driver Left Them Alone In A Truck

Fifty-three puppies died from overheating when they were left inside a truck parked in front of a home in Southwestern Missouri, police said.

The driver of the truck, which was being used by pet transportation RDR Transport, put an additional heater inside the vehicle Sunday night because the temperature outside was in the single digits, Newton County Chief deputy Chris Jennings said.

When the driver, who was an employee for the pet transportation service, returned to check on the puppies 90 minutes later, he found most of them dead.

Jennings said the driver added the extra heater because the vehicle’s heater hadn’t been working properly and he was having a difficult time keeping the puppies warm.

The incident occurred in the small town of Neosho, Missouri, population of 12,156 and a 4-hour, 20-minute drive from St. Louis.

Renee Ray, who is one of the owners of the animal transportation company, said the surviving puppies received veterinary care, reports said.

"We realize this accident paints a frightening and emotional picture, which some groups may use to try and vilify my business," Ray said in a statement. "Everyone here at RDR Transport loves what we do and the puppies we transport."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture opened an investigation into the puppies’ deaths to find out whether any animal welfare laws were violated.

Ray had been accused of violating such laws in 2015 when she was licensed as a dog breeder, the Associated Press reported Monday. A U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection of the animal holding facilities used by Ray’s breeding company found no elevated platforms for the nine kittens housed there and a cage being used for a French bulldog was too small, both violations. Ray terminated her breeder’s license later that year, U.S. Department of Agriculture records showed.

Jennings said charges would not be sought against the driver and labeled the incident a “horrible accident.” Ray’s pet transportation company acted in accordance with U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection regulations in both 2014 and 2015.

"These people are out tons of money," Jennings said. "There is no reason to think this is intentional. … I'm a big animal lover, and I hate it. But if it's an accident, we can't charge anybody."

Seventy million to 80 million Americans have dogs, which is roughly 37-47 percent of all U.S. households, according to The American Society For the Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals.