OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Oklahoma City police have released body camera footage of officers rescuing over 30 dogs from the back of a U-Haul truck in scorching June heat.
On June 5, OKC officers were called to a Walmart parking lot after staff noticed a U-Haul parked in the middle of a hot afternoon that sounded and smelt like it was full of animals.
Officers had to cut off a lock to access the inside of the U-Haul trailer. Once inside, they uncovered 36 dogs stacked inside kennels in the trailer. Officers say the odor from the trailer was "overwhelming."
"Holy crap," an officer can be heard saying when the door to the trailer opens. "We have some in heat distress right here."
The OKC Animal Welfare said the dogs were soaked in urine and feces from being left in tight quarters. Many of the dogs had to later be groomed due to being matted.
When an Animal Welfare officer took the temperature of the inside of the U-Haul, it was over 100 degrees.
Body camera footage shows there were even newborn puppies in the back of the U-Haul trailer.
The officer who discovered the newborn puppies quickly asked officers from OKCPD and Animal Welfare to put gloves on so he can hand them the puppies.
I have a bunch of little puppies that are really bad," the officer says, referencing the kennel with the newborn pups. "This little guy isn't doing good at all. His head is stuck. Can you get me some pliers?"In the body cam footage, officers can be seen attending to the kennels that have been extracted from the truck, gathering water bottles to give to the dogs.
One officer breaks apart a Chick-Fil-A cup so he can fill it with water and give it to the dogs. The dogs immediately flocked to the cup of water to quench their thirst.
At the time of the discovery, all the dogs were alive, with about three or four in heat distress, according to the OKC Animal Welfare.
One dog later had to be euthanized due to organ failure from a heatstroke.
A couple identified as Dexter and Linda Manuel were arrested for the incident.
Both face 36 felony counts of animal cruelty, one misdemeanor count of transporting animals in a cruel or inhumane manner, and one count of violating the commercial pet breeders and animal licensing act.
Animal Welfare says they were already working on an animal cruelty case for Dexter and Linda at their home before the U-Haul was discovered. OKC Animal Welfare says they believe the couple was running a puppy mill.
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