Stray dog
IN PHOTO: A stray dog looks out of its enclosure at Dogtown, a protection, care and adoption centre for stray animals in Uzunu, 35 km (22 miles) south of Bucharest April 25, 2013. Around 400 stray dogs, mainly from Bucharest, are hosted now at Dogtown, waiting for adoption. According to its townhall, 65,000 stray dogs stay in Bucharest and the National Institute for Infectious Diseases reported that 16,000 people were bitten by dogs in 2012, an increase of 3,231 more cases than in 2011. Reuters/Bogdan Cristel

Animal control police, together with help from volunteers, rescued around 40 dogs abandoned in a home in Lakewood, New Jersey. According to Absury Park Press, or APP, report, the rescuers spent about eight hours to carry on the rescue mission.

A run-down home located at 52 Spruce Street was home to dozens of dogs drenched in urine and covered with muck and faeces. Rescuers said that a Hazmat team had to come to help with the mission as several of the dogs went hiding within the house walls.

APP reports that golden retrievers, huskies, border collies, and mixed breeds were extracted from the home. “Ive never been in a situation that was this bad,” said Lorraine Healy, founder and president of Matawan-based rescue group Husky House.

Complaints about the animals came from neighbours in town two weeks ago. Last week, an animal control officer from Lakewood made an initial visit to the location when the owner gave up some of the dogs, according to NJ Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or SPCA.

After the initial visit, the officer went back each time to pick up two dogs because of limited capacity in the animal shelter. By Thursday, it was discovered that there are more animals kept inside the house.

NJ SPCA called volunteers to step in on Thursday, and 29 dogs were rescued. On Friday morning, another one was extracted. “Once we found out there were more than 10 dogs, we immediately responded and went into the house and took action,” township manager Thomas Henshaw said.

Rescuers described the home as “horrendous,” as how Healy put it. It was covered in faeces, trash and urine. The grass and weeds have overgrown, and opened dog food cans were scattered on the backyard.

Different animal shelter groups took in some of the dogs. Husky House took in six dogs, while other rescue groups such as Eleventh Hour Rescue, Popcorn Park Zoo and Animal Rescue Sanctuary and Seer Farms took in some of them to their facilities.

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