FRANKLIN—A Franklin man was charged with allegedly selling five-week-old puppies from the trunk of a car when the heat index hit 110 degrees, said Franklin Police Lt. Tim Whitt.

One of the shih tzu pups died.

Carl Basnight, 26, of 376 N. College Drive, Apt. C, on Thursday was selling the puppies in the parking lot between Arby’s and Walmart on Armory Drive, Whitt said. Police received a call at 12:15 p.m. about the puppies, which allegedly had no food or water.

Police seized the three dogs, including one that was unresponsive. They were taken to a veterinarian, where one died. The remaining male and female were taken to the animal shelter in Franklin.

A corrections officer with the state prison in Greensville County, Basnight was charged with three counts of selling of dogs before seven weeks of age and three counts of failing to provide proper care of animals. All are misdemeanors.

Law requires that puppies be at least seven weeks old before they can be taken from their mothers, Whitt said.

“They were taken from their mother before they were fully weaned,” he said.

Basnight will have a hearing at 9 a.m. Monday, July 30, in Franklin General District Court. A petition was filed to not return the puppies to Basnight.

The suspect would not cooperate with the animal control officer, Whitt said.

“He didn’t want to release information or give the mother’s location,” Whitt said.