Back-to-back emergency animal rescues of 80 dogs and puppies in two urgent hoarding cases

The ARC field team deployed for dual emergency animal rescues deep in Arkansas. The team rescued 80 dogs and puppies in heartbreaking conditions in these two large-scale hoarding cases. In isolated, rural counties, the dogs of Operation Downpour had no other lifeline and were in urgent need of rescue.

  • Case #1: Hoarding

  • Location: Arkansas

  • Number: 40

  • Urgency: Emergency

The first emergency animal rescue was a hoarding case of 40 small dogs, including vulnerable puppies, expecting mothers, and adults suffering from bite wounds due to overcrowding.

When the tenant became severely ill, the animal hoarding situation became apparent. Her elderly father temporarily moved in to care for the dogs, but they were in desperate need of intervention and outside help.

No local shelter can take that many dogs all at once, let alone that many chronically neglected dogs in need of immediate medical, physical, and social care.

But individuals like each of these dogs are why ARC was founded.

  • Case #2: Hoarding

  • Location: Arkansas

  • Number: 40

  • Urgency: Emergency

The second case was also a tragic hoarding situation. Forty medium-sized dogs live in the care of a man who started feeding strays but could afford little more than food for them and himself.

Without county resources that could help, the dogs reproduced freely and suffered from a lack of individual care and medical treatment, and they were in desperate need of emergency rescue

Litters of puppies lived outside, and some of the mother dogs were very thin. Many of the female dogs on the scene were pregnant.

22 of the dogs were vulnerable puppies.

Several dogs lived inside the house as well, where there was no plumbing. In wet weather, a faulty electrical system shocked anyone who stepped in the wrong place. The electricity had to be turned off so that ARC’s team could safely enter the home.

In these rural counties—and with shelters at capacity nationwide—there are few, if any, resources for large numbers of animals in crisis, especially those like these, suffering from chronic neglect who need urgent medical and physical care. No animal should endure life in an overcrowded, unsanitary hoarding situation. These dogs have suffered far too long, and they deserve safety, care, and compassion.

Each of these animals is a unique, sentient being who deserves to be seen, valued, and given the chance to find a loving family of their own.

All of the animals from these emergency rescues will be taken to ARC’s Rescue Center to be provided with lifesaving medical, physical, and social care. Your donation to Animal Rescue Corps today will support Operation Downpour and all of ARC’s emergency animal rescues and other lifesaving work.