NATCHEZ — While they might miss their dog-napped friends, puppies at the Natchez-Adams Humane Society will soon have more room to play in a new pen.

The seven puppies stolen from a dog pen at the Liberty Road shelter Dec. 19 have yet to be recovered, Humane Society President Barbara Platte said.

But a resident recently donated to NACHS the $400 needed to replace the dog pen that was damaged beyond repair during the burglary. And plans to buy the new pen are in the works, Platte said.

Platte said an anonymous person also donated $250 to go toward a reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect who stole the bulldog mix puppies.

“They have to get back (to the shelter), so they can get adopted and get new owners,” Humane Society board member Linda Kennon said.

Kennon said the 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 remaining pens have since been secured inside the fence, Kennon said.

Kennon said another resident also donated a second pen, which NACHS will use.

Kennon said she doubts the people who stole the puppies would spay or neuter the animals, which would perpetuate the probable mistreatment of the animals.

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.

The Natchez Police Department has a lead in the investigation, but no arrests have been made, Interim Chief Danny White said.

Kennon said the puppies, which had been at the shelter for two weeks, are various colors and came from three separate litters.

A total of 11 puppies have been stolen from the shelter in the past two months, Kennon said.