TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Twelve puppies found in a remote area of Cochise County are recovering in Tucson.
The Humane Society of Southern Arizona says a hiker found the 12 pups near Bisbee.
"This is the worst case scenario," said Brandy Burke with the non-profit. "We don't want to see animals come into us this way."
The dogs were brought in to the Friends of the Bisbee Animal Shelter. Volunteers say they were malnourished, dirty and clearly left to die.
"These puppies have never had any vaccinations, their parents have probably never had any vaccinations," Burke said. "Right now they have a little loose stool so they've probably been eating garbage."
Burke says the puppies range in age from 8 weeks to four months and are from multiple litters. Burke says they see these types of cases all too often, and stresses the importance of spaying and neutering your pets. The dogs are friendly, Burke said, and it appears they have been socialized.
"We think they belonged to someone at some point in time," Burke said. "And it probably just became overwhelming. They ended up in the desert."
Burke says they do offer low cost spay and neuter options. After pictures were shared on Facebook, the Humane Society has been inundated with calls about the puppies but they won't be up for adoption for a few weeks when they are healthy.
This weekend a number of local non-profits are holding adoption specials for PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend.
The Humane Society will have $25 adoptions for cats and dogs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on February 13 and 14 at the PetSmart locations at 7727 E. Broadway Blvd., and 3850 W. River Road.
Pima Animal Care and Control will waive all adoption fees for animals from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on February 12 through the 14 at the following PetSmart locations:
- Grant and Swan (4740 E Grant Ave.)
- Oracle and Wetmore (4374 Oracle Rd.)
- Irvington and I-19 (1175 W. Irvington Rd.)
- El Con Mall (3695 E. Broadway Blvd., between Home Depot and Target)
Hermitage will be offering $14 adoptions at the Petco located at 5625 E. River Road from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on February 13 and February 14.
