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Police rescued 14 animals from a Pennsylvania home on Sept. 2 after hearing distress sounds and noting strong odors inside
At least two dogs were found dead in the home, while the surviving animals were “thin” and “unkempt” with feces and dirt on their fur
Humane Animal Rescue urged people to seek help if unable to care for pets or if they suspect animals are in danger
More than a dozen animals that had been living in “deplorable” conditions were rescued from a home in Pennsylvania.
The incident began when Animal Care and Control officers with the Pittsburgh Police Department (PPD) responded to the home, located in the city’s Westwood neighborhood, on Wednesday, Sept. 2, after receiving complaints, according to KDKA, WPXI and WTAE.
When the officers arrived on the scene, they were unable to make contact with anyone in the house, but entered the premises after hearing “sounds of distress” coming from animals inside, per WPXI. They also noted a strong odor of urine, feces and decay coming from the home.
Officers found at least two dogs dead, per KDKA and WPXI. The home was unoccupied except for the animals at the time.
“It is unclear at this time whether the property is occupied or abandoned, but it is in deplorable condition inside,” public safety officials told WTAE in a statement.
Eleven other dogs, two puppies and a cat were also found inside the home and transported to the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh for care, KDKA, WPXI and WTAE reported. No arrests have been made yet, according to the outlets.
PEOPLE has reached out to the PPD for updates on the incident.
Several neighbors told KDKA off-camera that they had not seen anyone at the home for at least a week before the officers arrived. One neighbor, Nicholas Roedler, told WTAE that he often walked past the home and had noticed the animals making sounds.
“We heard barking. My mom heard it, like, more specifically than I did,” Roedler recalled to the outlet. “I did hear it, but she always questioned it. Like, ‘What’s going on there?’ “
Carla Prince with Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh told KDKA that the animals were in terrible condition when they arrived at the shelter.
“They are thin on the side, and they are unkempt, so their fur is matted,” Prince told the outlet. “They are dirty, and there is some feces and some dirt and stuff like that in their fur, and their nails need [to be] cut.”
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“It’s a sad situation,” she added.
Prince said the animals still needed to be examined, treated and medically cleared before they could be put up for adoption. She also encouraged people to contact them if they are unable to care for their pets or they suspect that a pet needs help.
“Please reach out before you get into circumstances that are just beyond control. Ask for help; you’re not going to get in trouble,” Prince said. “If you hear or see things that just don’t seem right, please reach out.”
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