The owners of two Husky-mix puppies left chained up outside during Wednesday's severe thunderstorm will face animal cruelty-related charges, police have announced.

But as of 7 p.m. on Thursday night, the puppies have disappeared. The authorities, owners and neighbours all say they don't know what happened to the young dogs.

The puppies were first noticed by a neighbour, Shelley Ravells, earlier in the week in the Broadview Avenue and Dundas Street area. She heard the two crying and saw them chained up with what she thought was insufficient food. She called for help on Thursday.

Initially Ravells called two animal welfare agencies — the OSPCA and Toronto Animal Services — and the Toronto police. They told her there was nothing they could do for the puppies since they were not in immediate danger.

A police officer fed the puppies and left.

But it was when Ravells posted about the puppies on social media that others began to notice. Specifically two Canadian television actors, Tammy Isbell and her husband, Orphan Black actor Peter Outerbridge, showed up to help.

The owners of the puppies were charged under city bylaws with failure to provide proper care (access to food, water, sufficient shelter) for the puppies.

Police say they are looking for the puppies.