RICHMOND, Ky. (FOX 56) — Officials are investigating another animal cruelty case in Kentucky over the weekend.

On Sunday, the Richmond Police Department said officers discovered a container in an alley near downtown Richmond. Upon further investigation, six puppies appeared to have been closed inside and were deceased.

“We received a call for a suspicious item located in an alleyway behind one of our tow lots here downtown. We located the item they were talking about, and after looking at it a little bit further, we noticed a paw sticking out of it,” Officer Lani Coleman said.

Police believe the puppies were chocolate Labrador mixes.

“However, we do want to let people know that even though some people just look at it as an animal or property, they are sole living things, so they can still face charges for mistreating them, not giving them the care that they need or anything like that. So they would still be looking at an animal cruelty charge in the second degree,” Coleman said.

If you have any information, please contact Officer Coleman by emailing lcoleman@richmond.ky.us or leaving a message with dispatch at 859-624-4776.