HANCOCK, Md. – Members of a Maryland animal rescue group helped remove 112 animals from an “extreme hoarding situation” on Tuesday, officials said.
The Humane Society of Washington County rescued 87 dogs and 25 cats from the town of Hancock, The Herald-Mail of Hagerstown reported.
The animals were all alive but living in unsanitary conditions, Crystal Mowery, the field service director for the Humane Society, told the newspaper. They had been fed but were not given proper medical treatment and grooming, she said.
“They were living in their own feces and urine,” Mowery told The Herald-Mail. “They’re all covered in feces and urine.
“There’s no way to ever know why someone would allow this to happen.”
Video and photos posted Tuesday on the humane society’s Facebook page during the rescue effort showed a number of dogs. Several looked filthy, The Herald-Mail reported.
The images were posted with short messages about the animal rescue in progress and the need for donations, the newspaper reported.
“It takes a village, and we need your help now,” the humane society’s Facebook page stated. “Please make an emergency donation to support these innocent animals.”
The humane society first became aware of a home with at least 25 dogs in unsanitary conditions on Friday, but didn’t see the situation in person until Monday, Mowery told The Herald-Mail. A team returned at about 9 a.m. Tuesday to begin removing the animals, Mowery told the newspaper.
The owners surrendered all of the animals at the home, Mowery said. They were taken to the shelter by Tuesday night.
Mowery called her workers’ effort a “great feat for any shelter.”
“I’m extremely proud of my team,” Mowery told The Herald-Mail.
