Offering an award of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) hopes to help track down who was responsible for the nine puppies that were abandoned in Rifle late last month.

The nine puppies, less than 24 hours old, according to a local veterinarian, were found Oct. 26 near Garfield County Road 244 by campers in the area. The puppies were suffering from malnourishment and would not have survived the night.

Only two of the puppies remain alive.

“At least one person out there left a trash bag full of newborn puppies outside in the cold and walked away, leaving them vulnerable to dying of hypothermia,” PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange said in a press release.

“PETA urges anyone with information to come forward immediately so that whoever left these dogs to die can be held accountable and stopped from hurting anyone else,” Lange said.

PETA spokesperson Klay Rutherford said that the organization will offer awards whenever it thinks it might be helpful in order to apprehend individuals who have committed serious crimes. Unfortunately, he said they are offered on a frequent basis.

Rutherford said he has heard from law enforcement officials in the past that the rewards had led to information that has helped them catch suspects.

He asks that anyone who knows of a pregnant dog that was in the area to contact the local sheriff’s department.

Law enforcement officials have yet to make any arrests in connection with the crime, according to the press release, which is a Class 1 misdemeanor that could carry a minimum fine of $500 and a possibility of up to six months in jail.

azorn@citizentelegram.com