Some of the small dogs were “severely matted,” sick, and one was actively “giving birth,” according to rescuers
New York City’s largest animal shelter helped kick off a “massive rescue effort” on June 26 after over 100 dogs were found living in what it described as “unimaginable” conditions inside a Brooklyn apartment following the death of their owner.
The dogs were “severely matted” and sick when Animal Care Centers of NYC (NYC ACC) arrived on the scene after the New York Police Department responded to a call about an “unresponsive” woman in Brooklyn’s Mill Basin neighborhood on Thursday, June 26, around 6:43 a.m.
A police department spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE that while police found the woman, 73, “unconscious and unresponsive on the ground floor” of the home, authorities also discovered what it described as “a large amount of dogs” inside the apartment.
NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Animal Care and Control then came together to remove dozens of dogs from the apartment.
As of Friday, around 11 a.m. local time, the NYPD estimates that roughly 100 dogs have been rescued from the apartment. The ASPCA will continue to remove the dogs from the site on Friday, per the NYPD.
NYC ACC described the rescue efforts on social media and shared images of the dozens of small dogs saved so far. The canines appear in photos with overgrown hair, walking around in dirt and presumably feces, sitting in large groups, and having their fur trimmed for what seems to be the first time in months.
“Many are severely matted, most appear sick, and one was actively giving birth as our team arrived,” the NYC ACC wrote on Facebook. “All have been living in unimaginable filth.”
“We know the public reaction is one of disbelief, even anger. It’s hard to comprehend how anyone could live this way, or how animals could be left in such a state,” the shelter continued. “But anger alone won’t help these dogs. What will help is action.”
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NYC ACC encouraged both prospective adopters and rescuers to get in touch to help with the recuperation of the dozens of neglected pups.
“Let’s make sure their next chapter is one of love, comfort, and dignity ❤️,” the NYC ACC added.
Neighbors told ABC affiliate WABC that the smell emanating from the home was “toxic,” with some reporting that police had previously attempted to access the house but were unable to do so.
“I thought originally that the house was abandoned, because it’s in bad shape,” neighbor Susan Scognamiglio told the outlet. “But then we heard the dogs barking.”
“It’s hard to take care of one dog,” Nicole Scognamiglio added. “How do you have 80? As much as you love them.”
In an update later on June 26, the NYC ACC detailed how the “rescue community rose up” after the dogs were found.
“From fellow shelters and rescue groups to fosters, transporters, groomers, and donors, you’ve stepped up for these dogs in ways we’ll never forget. 💛,” the organization wrote. “This is what animal welfare should look like. Collaboration. Compassion. Commitment. We still need help, but in this moment we are celebrating the power of coming together.”
As for the dog’s owner, the woman’s cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner’s office, per the NYPD. No arrests have been made in the “ongoing incident” as of Friday morning.