OSP trooper rescues 10 puppies in trunk during traffic stop

Oregon State Police troopers have to be prepared for just about anything on a traffic stop, but finding 10 puppies locked in the trunk of a car on a warm May day isn’t your typical sort of rescue.

Around 3:30 p.m., Senior Trooper and K-9 handler Travis Peterson stopped a 2008 Ford Fusion for speeding while heading north on Interstate 5 just south of Medford, troopers said.

During the traffic stop, there were “several signs of suspicious activity,” according to a Facebook posting.

The driver consented to a search that found 10 husky/German shepherd puppies locked in the truck, with no water or air conditioning on a nearly 90-degree day, troopers said.

The puppies were being transported from Fontana, California to Seattle, and the owner was cited for animal neglect.

“OSP’s K-9 unit is not always about just finding illegal drugs,” the agency said in its posting. “Some days, they get to save the lives of puppies.”

Peterson told The Oregonian/OregonLive the driver and passenger gave conflicting stories about where they were headed. When he asked if there was anything in the trunk, the passenger loudly said no, but the driver said there were 10 puppies.

“I said, ‘Excuse me? Puppies?'” Peterson recalled. “I’ve been on the police force for 10 years. I was not thinking puppies.”

The trooper told the paper the puppies were being taken to be given to a relative. Peterson said they were panting heavily, but still quite friendly. They were taken to Jackson County Animal Services, and if the owner is convicted, he ‘ll be barred from owning the dogs and they will be available for adoption.