PORTLAND, Tenn. (WKRN) — Eighteen Chihuahuas, a chicken, a pig and a cat were rescued from what the Animal Rescue Corps called "neglectful conditions" in a Sumner County home Friday.

The ARC said rescuers worked with the Portland Police Department and Animal Control and discovered several of the dogs living in stacked cages with "obvious signs of neglect and abuse" like fleas, mange, broken bones, eye infections, missing jaw bones, parasites and more.

The pig suffered from overgrown, curled hooves — caused by extreme neglect and being kept in a pen in the home's backyard, the ARC said. Inside the home, ammonia levels made the air dangerous to breathe; rescuers wore protective equipment to save the animals.

“It's clear these animals have endured long-term neglect,” Tim Woodward, Executive Director of ARC, said. “Many are suffering from painful, preventable conditions — from untreated infections to parasites, untrimmed hooves, and advanced dental disease. No animal should have to live like this. I’m grateful someone alerted authorities to their suffering and authorities knew who to call for help.”

The 18 dogs and the cat were surrendered to the care of the ARC and were taken to the ARC's Rescue Center in Gallatin. There, they're receiving medical, physical and emotional care. The chicken and the pig were placed with Piccolo Farms Animal Sanctuary where the ARC said they will receive lifelong care.

If you would like to donate to the ARC to help with this case, you can follow this link.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/21-animals-rescued-from-neglectful-conditions-in-sumner-county/