In a viral video shared on Instagram by the New York Police Department (NYPD), bodycam footage captures police officers rescuing six pitbull puppies from a heating bag, just as a woman in Queens was about to sell them over the weekend.
The video was posted with the caption, “When a woman was selling puppies confined inside a hot bag on a street corner in Queens, your NYPD 101 Pct officers immediately investigated. Thankfully, the distressed puppies were rescued before they were seriously injured.”
“Let’s get these dogs out of here; it’s so hot,” a man says in the video. “These dogs could’ve been dead in five minutes.”
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According to a report by People, officers were alerted on June 15 by a concerned citizen who had spoken with the woman. The eyewitness mentioned the woman was trying to sell a litter of six puppies packed into a heating bag.
NYPD told Fox 5 that when officers arrived at the scene, they overheard the woman attempting to sell a puppy. One of the police officers recorded the moment on his bodycam, showing officers cutting through the pink heating bag to reveal the puppies drenched in sweat.
According to People, the woman was charged with six counts of torturing and injuring an animal, six counts of neglect of an impounded animal, and criminal possession of a weapon.
After rescuing the puppies from the sweltering bag, police officers provided them with water and fresh air.
The video sparked outrage among social media users. One user said, “Please tell me she is prosecuted.” Another commented, “Put her in a damn bag on a 100 degree day!” A third user added, “Thank you for taking quick action to save these puppies! Can you tell us where they were brought after they were confiscated?” Another user said, “Absolute heroes, now hope all those babies get a loving home.”