12 puppies found dead in front of SC business. 2 men arrested

Twelve puppies were stashed in a cooler with the word puppy spray painted on it and left in front of a Greenville County business.

By the time the property owner saw the cooler the next day, all the puppies were dead. Greenville County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Ryan Flood said.

Two men have been arrested: Samuel Blease Smith, 56, and Brandon Lee Bennefield, 32, both of Greenville, and charged with 12 counts of abandonment of animals and 12 counts of ill treatment of animals.

Bond was set at $72,000 bond. They remained in the Greenville County Detention Center Wednesday afternoon.

Deputies and Greenville County Animal Control officers obtained surveillance video that showed a vehicle pulling up to the Highway 25 Bypass address and traced it to the suspects, Flood said.

The puppies were left at about 7:30 p.m. April 5.

“This case is heartbreaking and highlights the importance of responsible pet ownership and the resources available for those who find themselves unable to care for animals,” said Sheriff Hobart Lewis.

Flood said in a news release “abandoning animals is not only inhumane but also a crime.” Contact Greenville County Animal Control at 864-467-7595 for help.

This story was originally published April 17, 2025 at 5:30 AM.