CARE Humane Society accepts 18 dogs following Tuskegee hoarding case

On Thursday, Feb. 5, Tuskegee Animal Control officers responded to a call reporting that a recently deceased Tuskegee resident had animals that needed to be removed from the property. When officers arrived, they found 32 small breed dogs, confined inside the home amid piles of crates, feces and debris. Four deceased dogs were also found on the property.

Tuskegee Animal Control did not have the resources to take in all of the animals, so they reached out to the CARE Humane Society alongside a few other rescue initatives in the area for help. Audrey Salazar, volunteer coordinator at CARE, was on-site with Kennel and Behavior Manager Savanna Hill.

“We’d think we got them all, and then we’d move a bookshelf, and there would be two more dogs hiding behind the bookshelf. They just kept coming,” Salazar said.

The dogs, mostly on the younger side, arrived at the CARE facility in fragile condition. Salazar reported that the dogs were emaciated and dehydrated, and some showed heart murmurs, birth defects and other medical concerns.

None of the dogs had been spayed or neutered upon intake. While all of them have been vaccinated, many are not yet healthy enough to undergo surgery. Once the dogs reach a stable weight and condition, CARE plans to schedule spay and neuter procedures before putting them up for adoption.

Despite the dogs' circumstances, Salazar described the dogs as sweet with goofy, spunky personalities.

“When we first got there, about six or seven of them ran up to us at the house,” Salazar said.

The dogs' behaviors have been encouraging for CARE staff. A few were nippy during the rescue process, but staff attributed it to fear rather than aggression. They are submissive and shy but eager to play and receive attention from staff.

Salazar, along with the rest of the CARE staff, prioritize being as knowledgeable as possible about the behavioral and physical status of their animals before they can be made available for adoption.

“We never adopt out a dog without being able to say, 'Here's what we know and here’s what we don’t know,' because in this case, some popped up with heart murmurs,” Salazar said. “We want to give them time to get healthier in the foster homes before adopting them out and fully evaluating them and seeing what all they need.”

All of the dogs have currently being fostered. Once healthy, the dogs will be made available for adoption and will need permanent homes.

For those interested in fostering other dogs or cats that are currently at the rescue, CARE has many resources available to help make the experience as easy as possible.

“We provide any and all supplies you need. We provide food, blankets, a crate, anything you need while fostering,” Salazar said.

Fostering plays a critical role in the rehabilitation of dogs, like the 32 in this case. While fostering can be rewarding, it also comes with uncertainty and challenges.

“It's hard. It's emotional. In many cases, we don't know the dog's medical or behavioral history," Salazar said. "We don't quite know what to expect, especially if you take them into foster right after we get them. You're learning with us."

Foster parents must be prepared for that emotional burden of uncertainty, as well as the possible difficulty of giving the dog up when it's ready to be adopted.

“As long as the home is willing to give them a solid try with patience, that's all they need,” Salazar said. “I think they're going to adjust to whatever environment is willing to give them love and patience.”

CARE hopes that they can make more of these rescues available for adoption very soon.

To donate or learn more about fostering or adopting, visit the CARE Humane Society website.