Authorities responding to calls about a foul smell coming from a disgusting home in Lake Mathews, California found nearly 40 abused Pit Bulls trapped inside. The Animal Control officers who first arrived on the scene were shocked and nauseated by what they saw. A gut-wrenching stench emanated from the filthy home, and dozens of helpless faces peered through dirty glass windows. John Welsh, a senior public information specialist, described the scene to NBC Los Angeles, “We’re talking a scene from Silence of the Lambs, it was the smell of death.”
Unfortunately, the authorities arrived too late and 11 of the pit bulls had already passed away and one more passed shortly after being rescued. Officers on the scene did everything they could, but the toll of such terrible living conditions was just too great. It was later discovered that one homeowner was serving time in prison for drug trafficking and his wife had been missing for some time. The dogs had been abandoned and left to fend for themselves in a rotting house. Authorities speculate that the owners had been breeding the pit bulls.
David Bauman wrote a Facebook post about his experience visiting the shelter where the dogs were taken after their rescue.
I had the very sad task on Wednesday of having to visit the San Jacinto Animal Shelter after over two dozen emaciated pit bull dogs were removed from a property near Lake Mathews by Riverside County Animal Control officers. Officials were notified by neighbors who complained of a terrible smell coming from a home. Inside, they found ten dead dogs, and over two-dozen that were mere skin and bones. Hopefully, most of these sweet animals (and yes, they were all very affectionate) can be saved.”
The majority of the dogs suffered from severe malnutrition. Some were in such bad shape that they could not walk on their own and had to be carried off the premises. Despite suffering such brutal conditions, some of the dogs happily wagged their tails and excitedly approached their rescuers with nothing but love to give.
The surviving dogs were rushed to an emergency veternarian. They received extrodinary care and were placed on special diets designed to help them recover weight. Within weeks the dogs began to look normal again. Once they were considered healthy and stable, the adoption process was given a green light. Caretakers began evaluating the abused animals to determine which dogs were ready for adoption and which required further socialization therapy.
A recent update on the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus Facebook page discussed the dogs’ current condition,
As some of you may have seen on our Twitter account and a short post earlier, we worked with Wags and Walks on Tuesday. This wonderful rescue group organization out of Los Angeles gobbled up five of the 26 severely neglected pit bulls from the recent animal cruelty case near Lake Mathews. We got the emaciated dogs on good diet plans and, as you may notice in these photos, fattened them up fairly well. The poor dogs are in need of rescue now. Some are not very suitable for adoption. We are actively seeking rescue groups. Tuesday’s visit by Wags and Walks was just the start of what we hope will be a series of positve (SIC) new chapters for these dogs.”
