Associated Press
TACOMA — Nearly 40 dachshunds were seized Wednesday from a house east of here by animal welfare officers who said the dogs had been living in filth.
Workers with the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County said they recently noticed there were a large number of animals at the site and the owner did not have a kennel license.
With a warrant to search the property, officers told Seattle television stations that they found 39 dogs living in cramped and filthy conditions in a house and outbuilding. In addition to the dachshunds, one Labrador mix was found.
All but one of the dogs were removed from the property.
Veterinarians were examining the dogs, a process expected to take two days. Preliminary indications were that many were underweight.
"The living conditions for these dogs are absolutely horrible," said Tom Sayre of the Humane Society.
Humane Society officials will meet with Pierce County prosecutors to help prosecutors decide whether animal cruelty charges will be filed.
A court hearing will be scheduled within the next several weeks to determine whether the dogs will be eligible for adoption.
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