PETERSBURG, Va. -- Shocking and gruesome details continue to emerge after Petersburg Police and Animal Control found three dead puppies outside of a mobile home, in April.
"I'm appalled, this is the most egregious case [of abuse] I've ever seen," said Petersburg Commonwealth's Attorney Cassandra S. Conover.
The three puppies were sent to a lab to determine the cause of death.
Court documents obtained by CBS 6 show the dogs had an adhesive material on their muzzles and bodies.
Lab results revealed the dog's stomachs contained both over the counter and prescription medications, as well as insecticide.
Conover said that what happened to the puppies was done over a period of time.
"They were tortured, there was evidence of burning," she added.
The necropsy also revealed that two of the puppies had full firecrackers in their stomach.
Mobile home park residents said there there was a flurry of activity as Police and Animal Control Officers executed a search warrant last Thursday/
A copy of the search warrant obtained by CBS 6 details items recovered during the search.
Police said there is an active investigation into the crime.
"When you have acts like this that are done to animals, who knows what could be done to humans, what state of mind the person or persons may be in," Conover said.
Petersburg Police asked that anyone with information about any alleged cases of animal abuse, or about this case, to contact Crime Solvers at (804) 861-1212.
