Fifteen puppies and dogs found abandoned in the middle of a rural road are settling in at the Wyoming County Animal Shelter. Authorities are still looking for those responsible for leaving the canines where they were nearly hit by a car Sunday evening.
Two wire crates were found near the intersection of Hiram and Genesee Roads in the Town of Arcade. Wyoming County Animal Control Officer Justa Goodell says a couple found nine adult dogs in or tied to one crate and six puppies overstuffed in another crate.
“Someone coming down the road actually thought there was a small heard of dear in the road. It was dark so all they saw was eyes. So they slowed down of course, because they didn’t move. When they got up close they saw all these dogs,” said Goodell.
Goodell says the dogs are in good health, but were found covered in dirt and feces. She says it took a few baths to get them clean.
“It’s obvious they’re all related. The mother to the puppies we’re sure we figured out. The rest of them all have some trait that looks like the other so they’re obviously from the same place,” said Goodell. “Never have they been walked on a leash nor have they had a collar on and some of them we’re still having trouble touching, they’re very frightened.”
Goodell says she believes animal abandonment is a growing issue.
“It’s a multifaceted issue. One being economics, people get in over their head. There are other things that are more pressing and the animals are less and less of a priority. We also are seeing more issues with hoarding. There’s a huge number of people who just don’t realize, you cannot take care of that many animals in one place,” said Goodell.
Goodell says some of the 8 to 10-week-old puppies have already been adopted. She says the rest of the dogs will be up for adoption on Saturday.
Anyone with information about the owner of the dogs or how they ended up in the road is asked to call the animal shelter at (585) 786-8938.