Dozens of Dogs that were found living packed into cramped and filthy conditions in a home outside of San Diego will soon be available for adoption.
The San Diego Humane Society announced Thursday that it was now accepting adoption applications for 84 of the 123 Yorkie mixes that rescue crews found living in horrid surroundings in a home in Poway, a community about 23 miles north of San Diego.
Most of the dogs were rescued during an effort that began in a driving rainstorm on the afternoon of Jan. 20 and ran into the wee hours of the next morning.
Filthy conditions forced rescuers to put on protective gear
Conditions inside the home were so unsanitary that when rescuers arrived they were forced to don protective gear and respirators before entering. Many of the filthy and bewildered dogs, described at the time as “very sweet and loving, but very scared and nervous little Animals," were caked with urine and feces. Some 30 or so additional dogs were rescued several days later when crews learned from the elderly couple hoarding the dogs that there were more animals on the property.
“We always dread seeing a situation like this,” Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO for the Humane Society said on the night of the initial rescue. “It’s tragic for the animals and often for the people involved.”
Dogs suffered from a number of health issues
Because the dogs were so horribly neglected many suffered from a variety of ailments -- including skin conditions, ear infections and parasites. Humane Society officials say many of the dogs also have severe dental diseases, requiring surgery in the worst cases. Still others will require ongoing treatment, with the costs possibly rising to hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Still, with news of the rescued dogs gripping the attention of dog lovers in the San Diego area and elsewhere, there’s expected to be a big demand for the rescued dogs.
For those interested in adopting, there’s only a short window to apply, with applications needing to be in by Feb. 4 at noon. Applicants can apply online at sdhumane.org/adoptyorkies.
The rescued dogs are not on display to the public, so the Humane Society will be selecting applicants to come the society’s facility to meet the dogs. Because the dogs have not been house-trained and have limited experience with humans, officials caution their new owners will need patience and understanding.
"Some are shy and unaccustomed to collars and leashes, and most aren’t housebroken yet," Humane Society officials said in a statement announcing the adoption. "Nothing surprising given the miserable conditions in which they were living."