Emergency rescue of 14 dogs in a bone-chilling cruelty case and a life-threatening blizzard

ARC’s emergency Field Team deployed to West Virginia on the rescue of 14 dogs in a cruelty case in the midst of a blizzard. The team arrived on the scene after a long journey on icy roads. At that point, the temperature had already dropped to a bitter 18 degrees. Most of the surviving dogs on the property lived outdoors in frigid winter weather with an egregious lack of adequate shelter and care. Additionally, dog bones littered the ground outside the pens, covered by snow when the team arrived. Meanwhile, wastewater seeped from the resident’s home.

Before the team’s arrival, local helpers on the ground brought straw to as an emergency measure to help the dogs survive the past couple bitterly cold nights. In addition, they were able to foster a couple of the most vulnerable animals through the past freezing nights. But no one could take this many neglected dogs to safety in poverty-stricken McDowell County of West Virgina. Given the second storm forecast to hit West Virginia the day after ARC’s arrival and freezing temperatures continuing forward after that, these dogs had no other options.

One of these dogs, Tessa, is pictured below. Coupled with the chronic neglect and below-freezing temperatures, Tessa also suffered from a severe, untreated injury to her eye.

Unquestionably, the cruelty at this property did not happen overnight. Owing to a lack of entryways in the fency, many of the pens needed to be cut open to extract the dogs. Before the blizzard arrived, locals on the ground captured images of what the snow hid when the ARC team arrived: cold mud and bones. These animals suffered from life-threatening neglect and cruelty long before the blizzard swept in. With North America hammered by extreme weather and disasters on both coasts, these dogs’ lives depended on their rescue.

Alongside the rescue, the ARC team collected and processed forensic evidence of the cruelty these dogs have endured to support law enforcement. The resident was arrested, charged with 13 counts of animal cruelty, and jailed. Now, with the ARC team rushing to transport the surviving dogs to safety before the next blizzard hits, Tessa and the others finally have their chance for rescue and for a new beginning. Together, we can make 2025 their first good year.

With your help, their new lives begin now.

The dogs will all be transported to ARC’s Rescue Center for immediate care. ARC’s partners at Tails Humane Society outside Chicago, IL committed up front to accept some of the rescued dogs into their adoption program due to the urgency of the situation.

Please donate now for the dogs of Operation Deep Freeze and all of ARC’s lifesaving work. Every donation makes a difference.

And, if you are in a position to volunteer, please sign up today. Opportunities are always available in ARC’s Rescue Center outside Nashville, TN, as well as sometimes nationally and beyond. We sometimes offer travel stipends.