POLK COUNTY, Missouri — More than two dozen dogs have been rescued by the Humane Society of Missouri after suffering in poor conditions, according to a spokesperson.
The department's Animal Cruelty Task Force rescued 27 dogs from a property in Polk County on Friday morning, the spokesperson said. Several dogs were also found dead on the property.
In a release, the spokesperson said the dogs are being transported to their headquarters in St. Louis for health evaluations and emergency treatment.
"Many of the dogs had only rainwater collected in trash in the yard to drink and are severely underweight," the spokesperson said. "Several have injured legs, and one dog has an injury to its face. All were chained to random items on the property including furniture and trees. The ACT team also found several deceased dogs on the property."
The spokesperson said an ACT investigator tried to work with the property owner to improve the care of the dogs, visiting several times since close to a month ago. The spokesperson said on Friday, "most of the dogs that were recovered are malnourished and experiencing a range of health issues that will need further treatment."
“These dogs lived in horrific conditions, and had we not intervened, many more may not have survived,” said HSMO President Kathy Warnick. “We are grateful for the cooperation of the Polk County Sheriff and their assistance in helping us rescue these animals from such dangerous neglect before their conditions worsened or they died. Now that they are safe, community support is critical to ensure these dogs receive the care and treatment they deserve and a new chance for a better life with a loving family.”
Donations to help support the care of these animals can be made on the HSMO website at hsmo.org/rescue. The HSMO also is asking the public for assistance through donations of blankets, newspapers, dog toys, dog beds or anything else that can make these animals’ recovery more comfortable. Needed items also are available to purchase directly from Amazon on HSMO’s wish list.
A disposition hearing to determine if HSMO will gain legal custody of the dogs is scheduled for Dec. 4. The spokesperson said "If awarded custody, HSMO will make the dogs available for adoption after they have been given a clean bill of health by the veterinarians and evaluated by the animal behavior team."
