Retired doctor sentenced for abandoning puppies

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Jul 2, 2009 at 9:18 PM MST

Story Updated: Jul 2, 2009 at 9:18 PM MST

KALISPELL - A retired Kalispell doctor who pleaded no contest to aggravated cruelty to animals for abandoning 12 puppies at a dump site in Somers has been given a six-month deferred sentence.

John L. Heine learned his sentence Thursday in Flathead County District Court. The puppies, only two of which survived, were found Aug. 21 in a garbage bag at a dump site.

The 75-year-old Heine, a retired obstetrician who breeds dogs, has said he tried to drown the puppies because they were an unwanted litter and he feared they might contract parvovirus after two puppies he had shipped from Texas died from the disease.

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