Couple noticed abandoned suitcase mysteriously ‘moving’ by itself on the highway – what they discovered inside left them in

They noticed the zipper was slightly open, with something pushing from the inside.

PUBLISHED 3 HOURS AGO

(L) An abandoned suitcase on a deserted road; (R) Man and woman stunned opening a suitcase on bed - Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by (L) vadiar; (R) Ivan-balvan

A couple driving along a North Carolina highway spotted an abandoned suitcase on the roadside that seemed to be moving on its own. At first, it looked like any other discarded bag left behind, but the way it shifted caught their attention. They slowed down, unsure of what could possibly be inside, and the sight was chilling enough to make them pull over. Guilford County Animal Services said it happened on Saturday, Sept. 17, when the pair noticed the zipper was slightly open, with something pushing from the inside.

Person pulling a black trolley bag - Representative Image Source: Pexels | Photo by Mathias Reding

"They saw the suitcase moving, and a nose was poking out of an unzipped corner. There were four puppies in the suitcase," officials said, as reported by The Charlotte Observer. "They were shocked as to what they found, and immediately brought them to the shelter." The dogs, believed to be 10-week-old Labrador/pit bull mixes, were rushed to safety. Shelter staff named them Tumi, Samsonite, Stowaway, and Carion. "This was a first for us," the shelter said. "These puppies will now be medically evaluated and hopefully up for adoption or rescue soon." The suitcase itself gave no clue about who left the animals behind. For now, the focus is on their recovery and eventual adoption into permanent homes.

White-and-brown puppies lying in a corner - Representative Image Source: Pexels | Photo by Caio

Sadly, cases like this are not isolated. A review on Amelioration of Pet Overpopulation and Abandonment reported that in the US, around four million dogs are abandoned every year. Many of these animals are left in dangerous or neglectful situations, straining shelters that are already overcrowded. The study highlights that abandonment often results from preventable issues such as financial constraints, unwanter litter or a lack of accessible veterinary care. It also notes that without stronger spay/neuter programs and public education, shelters will continue facing overwhelming numbers of animals in need.

A person holding three puppies - Representative Image Source: Pexels | Photo by Manuel Del Piloto

Guilford County Animal Services posted about the rescue on their Facebook page, thanking the "Good Samaritans" who saved the puppies. News of the bizarre rescue spread widely, sparking outrage and gratitude in equal measure. DeeDee Gentry said, "Hard to believe how evil someone must be to do this. Thank you, good Samaritan." Another user, Sandy Batey commented, "Thank you to someone who cared enough to stop. I can't believe anyone could be that mean to do this to these dogs." "Truly unbelievable and disgusting act! Hope these pups find homes soon," wrote Mary Muntyan. Nichole Gutierrez pointed out, "All I can think of are so many animals treated this way that weren’t found! Lord!"

Mike Honaker quipped, "I wish bad and awful things on whoever did this. Not very nice of me, but there is a special place in hell for people who do this sort of thing!" "Why do people think they can treat living animals like trash? Is it really true that people like that really do believe that 'animals don't feel pain' or 'suffer?'" shared Roseanne Bellotti. Sharon Post suggested, "This is a reminder to always check if you see something on the side of the road. What an evil person to do this to those sweet babies. How can someone put those puppies in a suitcase, knowing that you're gonna dump them somewhere, not knowing if they are gonna be found? That's just pure evil."