Police: Man Beat Puppies To Death In South Baltimore Home

Police say a Baltimore man beat four puppies to death in a south Baltimore home. He remains at large.

Officers were called around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9 to a home in the 3700 block of 10th Street. Police say witnesses there told police they saw 21-year-old Donald Yearwood abuse the four puppies in the home. Police didn't find either Yearwood or the dogs in the home. The dogs taken remain at a shelter.

Later that evening, officers were called to the 1200 block of Cambria Street after a group of children found the four puppies inside a dumpster. Animal Control officers then arrived. Three puppies were pronounced dead at the scene, and a fourth was taken to an animal medical center, where he later died.

Detectives later learned officers had been called to the same home on 10th Street on Oct. 22, after an adult female pit bull bit a child, causing minor injuries. Officers at that time took that dog and six week-old puppies. Animal Control officers didn't know about the other four puppies in the home. Police say Yearwood had tried to feed and care for the four puppies over the following two weeks. Witnesses said that on the evening of the alleged abuse, Yearwood was trying to sleep and, disturbed by noise from the puppies, he began to kick and stomp on the puppies before throwing them down a flight of stairs. Police say several young children saw the attack.

Yearwood then put the puppies in a box and lefe. Police later found surveillance footage showing what appeared to be Yearwood placing the puppies in a dumpster. A warrant is out for Yearwood's arrest on 17 counts of animal cruelty, animal abuse and related charges. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.