Police are hunting a woman who dumped a bag of newborn puppies on a rubbish pile, leaving them to die in searing heat.
Rescuers said the seven puppies may not have survived had a passer-by not spotted them and raised the alarm.
Authorities in California called her actions “despicable”, and internet users branded the woman “evil, cruel and heartless” after CCTV footage of her abandoning the baby animals was circulated online.
Footage shows the young woman, dressed in a strappy black top, stopping her Jeep beside rubbish containers in the city of Coachella.
The woman first lifts one container lid, wondering whether to drop the bag of puppies in, then appears to change her mind, instead tossing them onto the open waste pile of the other container.
1/17 Love and peace
This festivalgoer’s monochrome fashion statement is simple – love and peace, a message that’s embellished on her wide leg trousers. She added a splash of colour to her look with her 1970-esque orange shades.
Getty Images for Coachella
2/17 Chic camo
This Coachella reveller has kept her stylish look simple – a camo co-ord, paired with large gold peace symbol earrings and groovy yellow sunglasses.
Getty Images for Coachella
3/17 A tribute to Britney
This outfit immediately draws parallels with the red latex bodysuit Britney Spears wore in the music video for her 2000 pop hit ‘Oops!… I Did It Again’, with the additional edge of a black bodysuit underneath.
Getty Images for Coachella
4/17 Unleashing your wild side
Leopard print is all the rage at the moment, and showing no signs of dissipating. This festivalgoer was all smiles as she donned her animal print crop top and leggings in the sunshine.
Getty Images for Coachella
5/17 Stars in their eyes
The lineup at Coachella may be star-studded, but no more so than this person’s sheer ensemble.
Getty Images for Coachella
6/17 Finding the silver lining
What better way to stand out among the throng of striking Coachella outfits than by opting for a silver sequinned jumpsuit. This festivalgoer finished off her look with a silver face gem decoration on her forehead.
Getty Images for Coachella
7/17 Keeping it cool
It can get hot dancing away in the Californian heat, which is why this person’s decision to carry a fan was likely a very wise one. She also looked fashionable to boot, wearing a sheer black and floral ensemble for the festival.
Getty Images for Coachella
8/17 Dazzling in diamantés
Another Britney Spears-esque ensemble, this time taking inspiration from the nude bodysuit the singer wore in the music video for 2003 hit ‘Toxic’. This festivalgoer completed her look with two braids and tinted shades.
Getty Images for Coachella
9/17 A zesty zebra-inspired look
Putting aside leopard print, the other animal print steadily gaining popularity in the fashion world is zebra. This guest added a touch of colour to her black-and-white outfit with a pair of red, rectangular sunglasses.
Getty Images for Coachella
10/17 Repping the Golden State
This Coachella festivalgoer was shining almost as brightly as the Californian sunshine in this bright yellow, crochet co-ord.
Getty Images for Coachella
11/17 Nineties nostalgia
This festival attendee seemed to have taken a leaf out of Nineties-era Britney Spears’ book, dressed in a sky blue latex crop top and high-waist trousers.
Getty Images for Coachella
12/17 Festival first, spinning later
Ever since Kim Kardashian was spotted wearing bike shorts in 2018, the trend has quickly gained traction. Whether you think they’re fashionable or not, this festivalgoer sure knew how to work them, wearing a pair of fuchsia cycling shorts with a Nike sports bra and a bubblegum pink neckerchief.
Getty Images for Coachella
13/17 Netted neon
This Coachella attendee demonstrated her keen eye for detail, matching her netted neon crop top with neon laces. She completed her bold look with a metallic, silver bum bag. Both eye-catching, and practical.
Getty Images for Coachella
14/17 Colour clash
In her bright pink, orange and white ensemble, you could spot this guest from a mile away among the throng of Coachella festivalgoers. While it may not look like the comfiest of outfits, it sure makes an impression.
Getty Images for Coachella
15/17 Matching eye for detail
These guests cut a stylish pair at Coachella, wearing matching black crop tops, pendant necklaces and black boots. They created slight variation with their trouser choices, one opting for a silver look and the other for a white, yellow and black colour combination.
Getty Images for Coachella
16/17 More is more
Whoever said less is more, clearly had little experience with festival fashion. There’s so much to this guest’s ensemble, from her black lace robe to her ornate silver necklace and white and black cowgirl boots. There’s a lot going on, and it works.
Getty Images for Coachella
17/17 Flower power
Coachella is renowned for its plethora of flower crowns, but this guest’s headwear undoubtedly trumps the lot. Wearing a headdress adorned with multicoloured roses and butterflies, she finished off her look with a dazzling gold necklace, a tropical-inspired crop top and a face full of glitter. The epitome of festival glam.
Getty Images for Coachella
1/17 Love and peace
This festivalgoer’s monochrome fashion statement is simple – love and peace, a message that’s embellished on her wide leg trousers. She added a splash of colour to her look with her 1970-esque orange shades.
Getty Images for Coachella
2/17 Chic camo
This Coachella reveller has kept her stylish look simple – a camo co-ord, paired with large gold peace symbol earrings and groovy yellow sunglasses.
Getty Images for Coachella
3/17 A tribute to Britney
This outfit immediately draws parallels with the red latex bodysuit Britney Spears wore in the music video for her 2000 pop hit ‘Oops!… I Did It Again’, with the additional edge of a black bodysuit underneath.
Getty Images for Coachella
4/17 Unleashing your wild side
Leopard print is all the rage at the moment, and showing no signs of dissipating. This festivalgoer was all smiles as she donned her animal print crop top and leggings in the sunshine.
Getty Images for Coachella
5/17 Stars in their eyes
The lineup at Coachella may be star-studded, but no more so than this person’s sheer ensemble.
Getty Images for Coachella
6/17 Finding the silver lining
What better way to stand out among the throng of striking Coachella outfits than by opting for a silver sequinned jumpsuit. This festivalgoer finished off her look with a silver face gem decoration on her forehead.
Getty Images for Coachella
7/17 Keeping it cool
It can get hot dancing away in the Californian heat, which is why this person’s decision to carry a fan was likely a very wise one. She also looked fashionable to boot, wearing a sheer black and floral ensemble for the festival.
Getty Images for Coachella
8/17 Dazzling in diamantés
Another Britney Spears-esque ensemble, this time taking inspiration from the nude bodysuit the singer wore in the music video for 2003 hit ‘Toxic’. This festivalgoer completed her look with two braids and tinted shades.
Getty Images for Coachella
9/17 A zesty zebra-inspired look
Putting aside leopard print, the other animal print steadily gaining popularity in the fashion world is zebra. This guest added a touch of colour to her black-and-white outfit with a pair of red, rectangular sunglasses.
Getty Images for Coachella
10/17 Repping the Golden State
This Coachella festivalgoer was shining almost as brightly as the Californian sunshine in this bright yellow, crochet co-ord.
Getty Images for Coachella
11/17 Nineties nostalgia
This festival attendee seemed to have taken a leaf out of Nineties-era Britney Spears’ book, dressed in a sky blue latex crop top and high-waist trousers.
Getty Images for Coachella
12/17 Festival first, spinning later
Ever since Kim Kardashian was spotted wearing bike shorts in 2018, the trend has quickly gained traction. Whether you think they’re fashionable or not, this festivalgoer sure knew how to work them, wearing a pair of fuchsia cycling shorts with a Nike sports bra and a bubblegum pink neckerchief.
Getty Images for Coachella
13/17 Netted neon
This Coachella attendee demonstrated her keen eye for detail, matching her netted neon crop top with neon laces. She completed her bold look with a metallic, silver bum bag. Both eye-catching, and practical.
Getty Images for Coachella
14/17 Colour clash
In her bright pink, orange and white ensemble, you could spot this guest from a mile away among the throng of Coachella festivalgoers. While it may not look like the comfiest of outfits, it sure makes an impression.
Getty Images for Coachella
15/17 Matching eye for detail
These guests cut a stylish pair at Coachella, wearing matching black crop tops, pendant necklaces and black boots. They created slight variation with their trouser choices, one opting for a silver look and the other for a white, yellow and black colour combination.
Getty Images for Coachella
16/17 More is more
Whoever said less is more, clearly had little experience with festival fashion. There’s so much to this guest’s ensemble, from her black lace robe to her ornate silver necklace and white and black cowgirl boots. There’s a lot going on, and it works.
Getty Images for Coachella
17/17 Flower power
Coachella is renowned for its plethora of flower crowns, but this guest’s headwear undoubtedly trumps the lot. Wearing a headdress adorned with multicoloured roses and butterflies, she finished off her look with a dazzling gold necklace, a tropical-inspired crop top and a face full of glitter. The epitome of festival glam.
Getty Images for Coachella
She then turns away and drives off.
A passer-by later found the plastic bag containing the three-day-old animals, thought to be terrier mixes.
It happened at the same time as Coachella’s annual music festival, which ended yesterday, was taking place.
“If not for the good samaritan’s actions, the puppies may not have survived much longer,” Riverside County Animal Services said. “Midday temperatures in Coachella on Thursday were in the mid-90s range.”
The team that took the puppies in found a rescue group to bottle-feed them.
Commander Chris Mayer, of animal services, said what the woman did was despicable, and the passer-by’s actions were actions were “humane and heroic”.
The woman is being sought on suspicion of animal cruelty.
“There is no excuse for dumping puppies,” Mr Mayer said. “Especially in today’s age when we or other shelters would be willing to get these animals to foster parents or rescue partners.”
