Every Paw Animal Rescue is providing updates on the eight puppies that were thrown over a bridge in St. Martin Parish.
On Friday night, one of the pups was rushed to an after hours clinic due to respiratory distress. The rescue says the puppies were in polluted basin water and some got in their lungs. One of the "runts" is having issues even though they were on antibiotics, added the rescue.
The puppy is better as of Saturday - his oxygen levels are increasing and "he is up fussing," says the rescue.
Rescuers have named this particular puppy Gabriel. He will be reunited with his siblings later this afternoon and all eight puppies will continue to be on "a more aggressive antibiotic" for the next seven days.
An official with Every Paw says on Facebook that it will be around six weeks before the puppies are ready to adopt, and the rescue will continue to post updates about adoption on their Facebook page.
EPAR is a foster-based rescue with just five foster moms in total.
Anyone wanting to volunteer or who has questions can contact Jen Shaw at eparinc@yahoo.com.
The eight puppies were found in the water on Sunday, February 16, after a fisherman witnessed a truck stop on the bridge near Potato Shed Road in Henderson. The fisherman thought the person had thrown out a bag of trash and went to get it out of the water. Instead he found eight newborn black lab puppies.
St. Martin Parish Deputies arrested 55-year-old Gary James Goulas of Breaux Bridge on Friday in connection with the case. Goulas is facing eight charges of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals.
The Humane Society offered a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest, but after an outcry of public support, the reward was increased to $7,200.
Jeff Dorson, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, said on Friday, "we are very grateful to the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office for making this case a priority, and we deeply appreciate the generosity of the concerned citizens who have donated to our reward fund. None of this would have been possible without the quick intervention of Mac Kennedy, who decided to pick up a bag of litter and miraculously saved the lives of eight beautiful puppies."
Dorson and the Humane Society also on Facebook thanked the police officer who they say helped investigate, locate, and arrest Goulas.
For updates on the puppies' recovery or if you want to adopt one of the pups in the future, follow Every Paw Animal Rescue on Facebook HERE.
The rescue is also accepting donations for the puppies' medical bills. You can find that fundraiser here.
