"There were chihuahuas just everywhere," one of the rescuers said
Credit: First Coast News/Youtube
NEED TO KNOW
- Dozens of chihuahuas were abandoned on the side of a Florida road
- At least 18 have been rescued, but pet advocacy groups believe there were as many as 30
- The canines were left locked in cages and in bad condition
More than a dozen chihuahuas have been rescued after they were found abandoned inside of cages on the side of a road in Florida.
As of Thursday, May 7, 18 canines were saved by two different organizations, First Coast News reported.
The Flagler Saving Missing Animals Response Team (SMART) transported 14 of the dogs to Flagler County, and four others were taken to SAFE Pet Rescue in Treasure Beach, according to the news station. However, it is believed that more may still be loose and lost in the wooded area near County Road 204.
PEOPLE reached out to SMART Flagler and SAFE Pet Rescue for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
"I received a phone call from a friend… My daughters and I jumped out of bed," Crystal DeSantiago with SAFE told First Coast News.
"There were chihuahuas just everywhere," DeSantiago said, claiming to have seen approximately 30 when they arrived.
"Some of them had sores, some of them were covered in feces, some were older like this girl," DeSantiago told the news station while holding one of the rescued chihuahuas. "It just seemed like a situation that got way out of control."
She also claimed that some of the chihuahuas died while waiting to be rescued and some had been hit by cars.
Traps were left in the area in the hope of drawing in the remaining dogs so they could be properly treated by professionals.
Caroline Johnson, who owns SMART in Flagler County, spoke to WOKV about how she and around 30 volunteers banded together to help the canines.
SMART Flagler founder Caroline Johnson helped the canines with about 30 volunteers, she told Action News Jax.
“The priority was to get as many of the more social ones that were coming up to us and secure them in crates first, and then work on the scared ones,” Johnson said. “It took us maybe three, three and a half hours of wrangling who we could, and then some of them ran off into the woods and down about a quarter mile each direction.”
She added that the ones they were able to rescue didn’t seem to be in the best shape.
“All have mangy fleas, you know, kind of very skinny, malnourished, most of them, a lot of them have skin allergies,” Johnson said. “Most of the females look like they’ve probably had litters before, possibly pregnant now, so we’re just trying to work through them one at a time and get them cleaned up.”
People within the community have come forward to ask about adopting the animals, reports Action News Jax and First Coast News. However, due to their condition, it may take time and veterinary care before the process can start.
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At this time, authorities have not publicly disclosed any information regarding who could be responsible for dumping the animals.
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Anyone interested in donating to, fostering or adopting the chihuahuas can visit SMART Flagler's website.
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