Two Cullman residents have been charged with animal cruelty after six puppies were abandoned and died.

The incident occurred Sept. 21 when a resident found a box of puppies in a neighborhood and reported it to the Cullman Police Department. Officer Rodney Bannister, one of the department’s animal control officers, said he took six puppies to a veterinarian to treat them for parasites and other medical conditions, but within three to four days they all died.

A seventh puppy was discovered earlier and survived, he said.

“A lady found one and carried it home to care for,” he said. “Later someone heard whimpering from the box and found the others inside.”

The puppies were found on the east side of the city by the residents.

Michael A. Figgs, 26, and Sumner N. Figgs, 25, were both charged with six counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals, Bannister said.