Oshkosh police locate suspect in abandoned puppy case

Oshkosh Police said Tuesday they located a Missouri man they suspect put an injured 2-week-old puppy behind a trash bin at an Oshkosh truck stop.

"The Oshkosh Police Department spoke to the male, who is from Missouri, who admitted he left the dog behind the dumpster," according to a new release from the department. Police said the investigation continues and no charges have been filed.

No details have been released about the cause of the dog's injury or why the man decided to abandon her.

Officials said they were flooded with calls since Friday with tips about the man's identity, which helped them trace the man to a Missouri trucking company. Police responded about 9 a.m. Friday to a report that the puppy had been left behind a dumpster at Planeview Travel Plaza, 1500 Planeview Drive. A surveillance video showed the man placing trash in a bin and then walking behind the bin with a dark object. The man walked back toward the gas station empty handed.

According to the release, earlier reports that the suspect left the truck stop in a semitrailer with a red or maroon cab were incorrect. "The maroon truck in the photos had no involvement in the incident and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused," the release said.

Oshkosh Area Humane Society staff think the puppy, which has been given the name Hazel, is about two weeks old and is possibly a boxer mix. The puppy is unable to use its hind legs and will likely need surgery to repair a broken pelvis and a possible injury to its spinal column. Veterinary bills are expected to run into the thousands of dollars.