Amber Kay Higdon, a 31-year-old woman from Georgia, has been sentenced to prison after leaving seven three-week-old puppies trapped in a plastic tote in 95-degree heat near a highway, leading to the death of the animals. Higdon pleaded guilty to seven counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with the first two years to be served behind bars followed by probation. The incident occurred on July 27 when Higdon abandoned the puppies on the side of the road, without food, water, or shelter, causing them to suffer and eventually die from pulmonary edema, pulmonary hemorrhage, and cardiac arrest.
An investigation revealed that Higdon took the puppies to a shelter but left with them when asked for identification. She then instructed the driver of the vehicle to pull over, removed the plastic tote with the puppies, and left them on the roadside, expressing relief that she could no longer hear their whining. The puppies were found by a passerby six hours later, leading to a necropsy that confirmed the cause of death.
Prosecutors had recommended a 20-year sentence for Higdon, while her defense attorney suggested 10 years. Ultimately, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison and is prohibited from owning or having contact with animals during her probation. Higdon’s co-defendant, who was involved in the case, pleaded guilty and received probation as her sentence. Cherokee County District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway emphasized that crimes against animals will not be tolerated in the county, and prison time for Higdon sends a clear message about the consequences of such actions.
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