LAPLACE, La. — If you are an animal lover looking to add to your family, the St. John the Baptist Parish Animal Shelter has dozens of dogs that need homes.
161 dogs and eight cats were rescued in a rural home in the parish in an apparent hoarding case, shelter officials said. Rescue efforts stretched for a two week period earlier this month.
After getting medical attention from volunteers, on Saturday afternoon the shelter held a meet and greet to find the animals a "forever home" for adoption as their health improves.
"They were in really poor condition so it's been a bit of a work in progress to get them medically ready for home," shelter director Rachael Sance said.
When the animals were first brought into the shelter more than half had heart worms and all of them had intestinal parasites, Sance said.
"They were just living in dirt. She provided food but couldn't provide medical but she wasn't able to afford medical," Sance said.
This is the largest animal hoarding case that Sance said she has seen. The shelter is normally equipped to hold 50 dogs at a time.
"A home for these guys is really important because that's their best chance at a normal life," Sance said.
Volunteers at the shelter were also impacted by the sight of these helpless animals.
"They had only been around one owner their entire life so everyone here who was volunteering their time terrified them," volunteer Alicia Mender said.
After getting much needed medical attention and some love from volunteers the health of the animals are quickly improving. Some of them have already found homes with local humane groups but most of them remain.
"For them to get out in homes gives us room to help other dogs out there that need to come in need a safe place," Sance said.
The Sheriff's Office elected not to charge the owner, sighting her age and poor health. But volunteers weren't focused on that on Saturday. Instead, they said they are keeping their attention on the community and are hopeful they'll come together to help these dogs find a new home.
"They are sweet, sweet dogs they really are. They deserve a chance too -- someone to let them cuddle with them on the sofa every night," Mender said.