A Littleton man who told law enforcement officers he couldn’t afford to feed nine pit bull and Rottweiler mix puppies has been charged with seven felony counts of cruelty to animals for allegedly throwing seven live dogs into a creek.

Mark Scott Lane, 50, was arrested today after investigation by Halifax County Animal Control Officer Robert Richardson. Richardson was also assisted by Animal Control Officer Kristy White and Deputy Dreher Bozard of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office.

Detective Doug Pilgreen said Lane told officers, “He just didn’t know what to do with them.”

Investigation revealed sometime between September 9 and September 10, nine puppies were placed in a bag and thrown into a creek off Weaver’s Chapel Road.

Two of the puppies were dead when they were placed in the bag and seven were still alive.

A passerby retrieved the bag from the creek and carried the puppies to a rescue shelter where they later died.

Richardson was the lead investigator in the case, Pilgreen said. Richardson could not be immediately reached for comment this evening.

Lane was jailed on $35,000 and has an October 20 court date.