Animal Humane Society officials say 41 Chihuahuas rescued this week from an unsanitary home in Carlton County in northern Minnesota are in "decent" medical condition and should be ready for adoption by the middle of next week.
The dogs, ranging in age from a few months to 10 years old, had been housed in unkempt and overcrowded conditions before the society's Critical Response Team took possession of them on Wednesday and brought them to Golden Valley for treatment, said Graham Brayshaw, director of Animal Services.
"We got there before too much suffering occurred," he said. "It's sad, but it is uplifting that we can respond before too many suffered."
Humane Society officials received a complaint about 20 to 30 dogs living in filthy conditions and asked a Carlton County sheriff's deputy to accompany them to a residence in Silver Township, the Sheriff's Office said.
It was not immediately clear who filed the complaint.
When team members arrived, authorities found 41 dogs, including tiny unweaned puppies. Many dogs were "running free in the house like a roaming pack of Chihuahuas," Brayshaw said.
One of the dogs was paralyzed. Others were pregnant, he said.
Despite the unclean environment, all appeared to have had enough food and water, and were in "decent condition, without too many ill effects," Brayshaw said.
