The man arrested for intentionally throwing six three-week-old puppies from a moving vehicle on U.S. 89 between Fruit Heights and Layton in October entered a guilty plea on March 23 to four felony counts of Torture of a Companion Animal. Two of the puppies died and one was left seriously injured.

The puppies’ mother was later found abandoned near Bountiful Pond, severely malnourished and showing signs of neglect.

Memphis Lor, 25, of Ogden, pleaded guilty to four third-degree felonies as part of the plea agreement with the Davis County Attorney’s Office. Three felony counts and one misdemeanor count were dismissed.

If not for the swift actions of several Davis County residents and drivers who stopped to rescue the puppies and report seeing their mother, survival and recovery would not have been possible, according to an Animal Care of Davis County release. 

This allowed Animal Care Officers and the Davis County Sheriff’s Office to quickly intervene to care for the animals and identify the suspect. 

“This incident is a reminder that Davis County residents show up and care about others, including animals,” said Director Michelle Hicks, Animal Care of Davis County. “We are particularly moved by the dedicated community members who stood with us in the courtroom during these proceedings. Their consistent presence ensured that the animals and their rights are not forgotten, and that our collective voice for justice is heard. Knowing these heartless actions have serious legal consequences is crucial to animal and human safety.”

Sentencing is scheduled for May 2026.