Trash bag of dead puppies thrown near mailboxes in Burnet, Texas

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A neighborhood wants answers after someone dumped a bag of dead puppies right next to their community mailbox.

The Burnet County Sheriff's Office said it is investigating the case.

“Inside this plastic bag were several decomposed puppies. They were decomposed to the point where it was impossible to really determine what type of dog it was,” said Capt. Michael Sorenson of BCSO Support Services.

“I hope they didn’t suffer”

Miranda Lowry and her family were the ones who saw the trash bag.

“The flies were just crazy,” Lowry said. “There was a swarm.”

While driving around her neighborhood, Lowry said her family saw the trash bag in their community mailbox in Burnet.

She said the smell was so strong they knew something was wrong.

“We were just planning to check it out and then go put it in our community dumpster that we have about a half mile down the road,” Lowry said. “But at that point I was like, 'No, don't joke about it.' “

Lowry said she called 911 and the Burnet County Sheriff's Office came.

When she found out what was inside, it broke her heart.

Lowry said unfortunately this isn't the first time animals have been dumped there.

“They were a bunch of cats, kittens,” Lowry said. “They were about six months old.”

His family was able to welcome one. As someone with a special heart for animals, this latest discovery left a lasting impression on Lowry.

“Every time I see a trash bag on the side of the road, I'll ask myself, 'Hey, should we go check it out?'” Lowry said.

She is now asking her homeowners association to add cameras near the mailbox to prevent this from happening again.

What are the penalties for this?

The BCSO said this type of crime carries serious consequences.

Sorenson said it is at minimum a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by fines and jail time.

It can be difficult to track down leads in these types of cases. That's why Sorenson is asking anyone with information to contact BCSO at 512-756-8080.