6 puppies reportedly thrown out of a moving vehicle in Calhan, deputies investigate

CALHAN, Colo. -- El Paso County Sheriff's Office is investigating a possible animal abuse case after witnesses say a litter with six canine puppies was thrown out of a moving vehicle in Calhan.

A deputy was dispatched within minutes to the scene on Highway 24 near Soap Weed Road and gathered witness statements.

"This incident occurred during dense fog and dangerous road conditions," said Sergeant Deborah Mynatt, a spokesperson for EPCSO, "Unfortunately due to these conditions, at least one of the puppies was accidentally hit by a passing car."

Morgan Dillingham, who placed the initial call for help, says she and her fiance immediately parked their car and tried to keep the puppies safe. While four of the dogs ran into a nearby field, two of them had been gravely injured on the road.

"We laid them down and we just kinda sat with them until they took their final breaths," she said.

Deputies say witnesses say a white SUV hit one of the puppies.

Mynatt says they identified the owner of the white SUV and initial investigation lead deputies to believe that they're "non-criminally involved." Still, they are searching for the party responsible for the canines and where they came from.

"You don't see a litter of puppies just in the middle of the road and them getting hit," Dillingham said. "It was horrible."

The whereabouts of the four other puppies are still unknown as the Sheriff's Office pursues the case. This investigation is still ongoing with several leads, according to Mynatt.

If you were in the area at the time and have any information, you can call EPCSO at 719-520-6666.