NATCHEZ — Seven puppies were stolen from the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society shelter Monday night — the third group of puppies stolen in the last two months.

Humane society board member Linda Kennon said the bulldog-mix puppies were in one of two portable chain-link fence pens outside of the outdoor fenced-in area where the shelter keeps large dogs.

The thieves, Kennon said, pushed the aluminum poles that frame the fence together to remove the attachment that holds together the fencing and poles.

Kennon said she is concerned the puppies will not be taken care of by whomever took them.

“Anybody that is low enough to do that, I don’t imagine they would take care of them,” she said. “I just have to believe they’re using them for no good.”

Kennon said the shelter is also in a bind now because it cannot use the pen, and the remaining puppies from the pen have been moved inside and confined to smaller cages.

“We put the puppies in the pens so they can be puppies and run around and play,” she said. “Now we don’t have a choice, we had to move them inside because we can’t afford to buy another pen.”

A new pen would cost the shelter approximately $400, Kennon said.

The other puppy pen has been moved inside the fenced-in outdoor area, which minimizes the space for the other dogs outside, Kennon said.

A total of 11 puppies, Kennon said, have been stolen in the past two months. She said thieves lifted up a pen and took the other puppies, and one puppy died after its head became hung under the fence when the thieves set the pen back down.

The shelter’s staff, Kennon said, made sure that the pens could not be lifted after the initial thefts.

“But they just found another way to get in,” she said.

“It’s totally disrespectful and uncaring of the animals.”

Donations for a new puppy pen can be dropped off at the shelter Monday-Friday from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. or mailed to P.O. Box 549, Natchez, MS, 39121.

Kennon filed a report with the Natchez Police Department, and Interim Police Chief Danny White said officers are on the lookout for the puppies.

Anyone with information about the puppies should call the shelter at 601-442-4001, NPD at 601-445-5565 or Crime Stoppers at 601-442-5000.

Kennon said she hopes people in the community will be on the lookout for the puppies.

“If you notice someone all of the sudden has seven puppies, realize that those are more than likely stolen and please call,” Kennon said.