A Warren County man who dropped off puppies Feb. 2 at the Vicksburg Warren Humane Society was found guilty of trespassing Friday and ordered to make a contribution to the Humane Society.

Redwood resident Gerald Ogle was initially charged with trespassing and cruelty to animals after dropping off a plastic container holding nine puppies at the front porch of the Humane Society’s shelter on U.S. 61 South while the shelter was closed.

Municipal Judge Penny Lawson was unable to find sufficient evidence during a show cause hearing Friday morning to charge Ogle with cruelty to animals, but said there was ample evidence for the trespassing charge. She withheld fining Ogle, ordering he instead make a contribution to the Humane Society by Thursday. No amount was specified

“You could clearly see the ‘no trespassing’ signs (at the Humane Society); you are guilty of trespassing,” Lawson told Ogle.

The hearing was the result of a complaint and affidavit filed by Humane Society director Georgia Lynn, who said surveillance video at the shelter showed Ogle pull up to the property, walk past the “no trespassing” signs, look in the building and leave the puppies in a plastic container.

During testimony Friday, she said the puppies were on top of each other in the container and all had the mange. Eight of the puppies had died since being left, and the lone surviving puppy, she said, is being treated for the mange.

Two Vicksburg animal shelter employees said Ogle came to the shelter before dropping off the puppies at the Humane Society.

Ogle said he and his family found the puppies under a shed shortly after moving into their home about four months ago. He said the animals were covered with dust and slime and ants, and were cleaned off and efforts were made to find homes for them.

He said the puppies looked healthy until about a month ago, when they come down with the mange, adding his family did everything they could to treat them. When things reached a point when their efforts weren’t enough, Ogle said, he decided to take them to the city shelter or the Humane Society to get help.

Ogle said he saw the trespassing signs at the Humane Society property, but thought they were for another part of the property. He said he did not check on the puppies after leaving them.

Lawson said she did not believe Ogle acted with any criminal intent to harm the puppies.

“You thought you were acting with the best of the intentions of the puppies and in their interest when you acted to get them help and find them a home,” she said. “It’s a shame they had the mange.”

“We were only trying to find a home for the puppies, and find them some help,” Ogle said after the hearing. “We didn’t know the right procedures to follow, but we do now. We weren’t trying to be cruel to the puppies; that was never our intention. We just wanted to help them and try and find good homes for them.”

Lynn declined to comment on the decision.