KANSAS CITY, KS (KCTV) -
More than 30 dogs and puppies need new homes after they were found abandoned in a foreclosed home. The animals had been left alone for at least two weeks.
Unleashed Pet Rescue and Adoption rescued the animals Saturday from a KCK residence on Southwest Boulevard. The group said the canines had been abandoned for some time.
"What we found was a complete travesty for any form of life to be expected to survive in," according to a news release from the group. "Amazingly enough, we have not had any of the animals expire since they have been transported into our care."
The group rescued 18 newborn puppies, 14 older dogs and a pregnant dog. Most of the older dogs were between 5- and 6-months-old.
The animals were living in their own feces. Most of the dogs are beagle and shar-pei mixes.
The conditions inside the house were so deplorable that workers could only go into the home for a few minutes at a time. The stench burned their eyes.
"What we found was absolutely horrific," said Chad Ackerman, a vice president for Unleashed. "What we thought was dirt was not dirt, but it was feces. It was hard for us to go up and down the staircase."
Unleashed Pet Rescue has cleaned the dogs. The group is working to get them vaccinated and ready for adoption. This includes working on their social skills.
The group had to use flashlights to comb through the house for dogs. One puppy had broken through an upstairs window and crawled onto a corner of the roof. That last puppy was pulled to safety.
Some of the mothers had as many as eight pups.
"There were some fairly domesticated. They let us approach them playing, but the mothers were protective of their young," Ackerman said.
The group needs supplies for the animals, including dry and wet puppy food, high protein dog food, cleaning products, blankets and paper towels. The group said the vet bills will be "massive," and monetary donations are desperately needed.
Because of their condition, Unleashed Pet Rescue won't be able to adopt the animals out as pets for weeks, if not months. But they are hoping people with generous hearts will help them out as they get the animals ready for their forever homes.
"We need lots of bleach, towels and blankets, anything," Ackerman said.
KCK authorities have been receiving complaints about the property for a decade. Code enforcement officers first went to the home in July 2002 after receiving complaints about junk and debris.
The property owner was cited for multiple violations in 2006. In July 2009, the residence was declared unfit to live in after the residents were living in the home without any utilities.
Because the home was recently foreclosed, the bank obtained documents from the resident to claim the property in the house. The animals were discovered and the bank's representatives contacted Unleashed Pet Rescue for assistance.
At this point, KCK does not plan to pursue legal action against the hoarder who left the animals behind. The animals were considered the bank's property based on the relinquishment papers.
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