Temperatures in Baltimore dropped into the mid-20s Tuesday night, more than cold enough to freeze six pit bull puppies that someone left outdoors overnight in the 3000 block of Spaulding Ave., in Park Heights near Pimlico Racecourse.

A city animal control officer called to the scene found them in a red plastic storage container that had been set outside the front door of an apartment building. "They couldn't have been more than a couple of weeks old," said Robert Anderson, director of the city health department's Bureau of Animal Control. "They were frozen solid."

He said the litter included three brown puppies and three that were darker, almost black.

"This was deliberate," Anderson said. "They left them outside just to get rid of them."

It also appears, based on reporting Thursday by The Sun's Nicole Fuller, (click here for her Friday story) that someone did call Animal Control, asking them to pick up the puppies Tuesday night. But the agency did not record the call as one needing immediate attention, and the officer didn't show up until morning. Why anyone would think it a good idea to leave the puppies outdoors in 20-degree weather to wait for Animal Control, and who was responsible for that decision, remains a mystery.

The bureau's investigation elicited no useful information from neighbors. "They're not talking. Nobody will point fingers at anybody," Anderson said. "We're hoping the reward will loosen some lips."

Humane organizations have come up with $1,500 to offer anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who set the puppies outside that night. Intentional animal cruelty can be prosecuted as a felony, with a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

But given the confusion about the call at Animal Control, it seems unlikely the dogs' owner, if found, will face that kind of punishment. There was an effort, however ill-considered, to do the right thing.

Any informants "don't have to leave their real names," Anderson said. "They can say they're King Kong."  And if the information leads to a conviction, they'll collect the reward without ever having to provide their real name.

Anyone in Baltimore with an animal they don't want can simply call the city's 311 non-emergency number, and the Bureau of Animal Control will come by and take it.

"During the winter, we get a lot of frozen or dying dogs," Anderson said. "But usually they don't leave puppies out."

Anyone with information about these puppies is asked to call 410 396-4698 and ask for the Animal Control Supervisor on duty. If you want to donate money to support reward offers for the arrest of animal abusers, make checks or money orders payable to Director of Finance, Baltimore City, and mail them to Director of Animal Control, Municipal Animal Shelter, 301 Stockholm Street, Baltimore, MD 21230