A March 2 probable cause hearing has been set in Vicksburg Municipal Court for a man accused of dropping off a closed container of nine puppies at the Vicksburg-Warren Humane Society while the shelter was closed.

The 8 a.m. hearing will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to charge the man and hold a trial on charges of trespassing and animal cruelty in violation of the Mississippi Dog and Cat Pet Protection Law of 2011, which prohibits confining dogs and cats in a cruel manner.

Court services director Janice Carter said the decision whether to hold a probable cause hearing is made after the judge reads the initial complaint and determines whether there is sufficient evidence to issue an arrest warrant.

If the judge does not find sufficient evidence in the report for a warrant, she sets a hearing on the complaint. Carter said the hearing allows both parties to bring evidence and witnesses to court.

“There are times when they will hold the trial right behind the hearing,” she said.

According to officials at the VWHS, the man dropped off a blue plastic container containing nine puppies and set it on the front step of the shelter about 8 a.m. on Feb. 2.

“He actually parked in front of our ‘no trespassing after hours’ sign,” Georgia Lynn with the VWHS said in a press release. “Before he left, this man made sure the lid was fastened tight. The blue container did not have any air holes.”

The puppies were about six weeks old and appear to be a hound mix, according to Lynn. She said the puppies were almost stacked one on top of the other.