Cruelty charges filed in dumping of puppies

OGDEN — Weber County prosecutors have filed animal cruelty charges against a man suspected of dumping 14 puppies in a trash bin behind a Riverdale store.

Michael Ray Howard, 34, was arraigned in 2nd District Court Thursday on 13 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, a class A misdemeanor, and a single count of cruelty to animals, a class B misdemeanor. According to court records, Howard appeared Thursday with an attorney after an arrest warrant was issued for him.

He was allowed to remain free on bail pending a Feb. 14 court appearance.

Howard is suspected of dumping the Jack Russell terrier-mix puppies in a plastic bag and then dropping it in a Dumpster behind a Riverdale fabric store. An employee heard whimpering and opened the bag, finding 13 dead puppies and one alive.