If you see something, say something.
Mark Theobald, a door-to-door salesman, was walking through a neighborhood in Marshfield, Wisconsin on February 28, when he heard several high-pitched cries. Instead of ignoring the disturbing sound, he said something. Theobald called police.
“I have no doubt that these puppies would have died,” Marshfield Police Officer Bob Larsen told Inside Edition. “I kept thinking, ‘How could anybody do this? This is absolutely insane.’”
Larsen answered the call and discovered a bag that contained eight puppies as well as trash inside a garbage can. The puppies were a day old. To make matter worse, it was only 17 degrees outside.
Larsen’s bodycam captured the heartbreaking moment he found the source of the cries.
Police arrested Robert Wild for allegedly abandoning the puppies. He was charged with intentionally mistreating animals and pleaded not guilty. Shortly after he was released on $2,000 bond, Inside Edition caught him selling puppies.
When confronted Wild expressed remorse and attempted to explain that he loved all of his dogs.
“I didn’t think they were going to die because in the back of my mind I knew I was going to go back and get them out of there,” he said. “I did something really stupid for a moment. Do I regret it? Yes I do.”
But not everyone believes Wild.
“It just gave me a sick feeling,” Marshfield Police Chief Rick Gramza said.
After Larsen rescued the puppies they were brought to Marshfield Area Pet Shelter – another puppy, who was born later, was also transported to the shelter.
The shelter received an astounding 250 applications for the puppies and spent weeks going through them in order to make sure the puppies would find the perfect forever home.
Among those adopting one of the puppies are two people who were involved in their rescue, Theobald and Officer Jacob Maxson, who assisted with Wild’s arrest.
“It feels great to adopt one of the puppies and to know that there are nine families that will give these dogs a chance in life,” Theobald said.
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All nine puppies, who were named after cheeses, have all been adopted.
“It’s a bittersweet moment seeing the puppies leave, but we are already getting feedback from their families about them settling into their new homes nicely,” Kaitlin Loberg, Shelter Manager, said.
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“We look at them as little miracles,” Executive Director Karen Rau told Inside Edition.
Wild plead not guilty and was ordered not to have any abusive contact with animals until his trial. If convicted, he could be ordered not to have contact with dogs for up to five years.
Share this story to thank Mark Theobald for saying something when he could have continued walking. If it wasn’t for him, these poor puppies could have died!
