HOUSTON -- A puppy died after falling down a drain in a Bureau of Animal Regulation and Control kennel, where officials said it never should have been placed, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.

Other puppies essentially had to be rescued from Houston's city pound, and while many are malnourished with worms and skin conditions, they are the lucky ones.

On Thursday, a mother dog and her three puppies were brought there. They were improperly placed in the wrong type of kennel used for larger dogs, not puppies. One puppy fell into a drain and died.

Kathy Barton with the Houston Health Department said they tried to save the 5-week-old puppy, but couldn't.

"It was very tragic. Our staff worked for well over an hour trying to get that puppy out of there," said Barton.

"Everyone is aware this happens. No one done anything to correct the problem," activist Kelly Cripe said.

Cripe said she has heard of puppies dying the very same way in the past, and it's animal cruelty.

"It's awful to hear, but I'm not surprised. I went to City Council with this problem six months ago and it happens often at BARC."

Barton said as many as five puppies have died down BARC's drains.

"How can every cage not be puppy-proof at this point?" KPRC Local 2 reporter Elizabeth Scarborough asked.

"That's what I'd like to know," said Barton. "I have no good explanation for that."

The same day, BARC asked the Houston Humane Society to take 68 of their puppies so they could fix the kennels. The shelter had to double, even triple up, dogs to clear an entire wing for the puppies.

"They are quarantined and in intensive care," said Lisa Pogue with the Humane Society.

Those puppies won't be ready for adoption for at least three weeks.

Barton said the kennels at BARC would be fixed "as soon as possible." She said the employee responsible for placing the puppies in that kennel will be severely disciplined, but would not elaborate.