A Georgia woman has been sentenced to prison after abandoning seven three-week-old puppies in a plastic tote in 95-degree heat, leading to their deaths. Amber Kay Higdon, 31, pleaded guilty last week to seven counts of aggravated cruelty to animals in connection with the felony crime, the Cherokee County District Attorney’s office announced on Thursday.
The tragic incident occurred on July 27, near Marietta Highway, about 40 miles northwest of Atlanta. Investigators found that Higdon left the helpless puppies on the roadside without food, water, or shelter. The puppies, too small to escape the tote, died from heat exposure.
“Animals rely on us for their survival, and the defendant discarded these puppies as if they were trash,” Assistant District Attorney Rachel Murphy said in a statement. “The defendant’s actions led to an extremely painful death for these innocent puppies, which no living being deserves.”
According to the Cherokee County Marshal’s Office, Higdon initially went to the local animal shelter to surrender the puppies but left abruptly when asked for identification. Later, frustrated by the puppies’ whining, she instructed the driver of her vehicle to pull over. She abandoned the puppies on the roadside, leaving them to suffer in the sweltering heat. A passerby found the puppies approximately six hours later.
A necropsy performed by the University of Georgia determined the puppies died from pulmonary edema, pulmonary hemorrhage, and cardiac arrest.
Prosecutors sought a 20-year sentence, with a decade behind bars, while Higdon’s defense argued for 10 years with only one year served in confinement. Ultimately, Superior Court Judge Shannon Wallace sentenced Higdon to 10 years, with two years to be served in prison and the remaining eight on probation. Higdon is also prohibited from owning or contacting animals during her probation.
“Given the pain and suffering caused by the defendant’s actions, prison time is justified and sends a clear message that Cherokee County does not tolerate crimes against animals,” District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway said.
Higdon’s co-defendant, who was not named, pleaded guilty and received a sentence of probation for their involvement.
