Geneva County, Ala. (WDNews) – Troy Animal Rescue Project says 26 dogs were found chained and starving deep in the woods in what rescuers are calling one of the most heartbreaking cases they’ve seen.
According to TARP, a man had been breeding the dogs to sell to dog fighters, though he maintains he did not fight the animals himself. Law enforcement has been notified and is involved in the case. There is an active investigation underway.
Rescuers discovered the dogs nearly a mile off the road in Geneva County, many of them emaciated and tethered with rusted chains. Nearby were empty dog houses, abandoned collars, and skeletal remains of dogs that did not survive.
TARP Director Tiffany Howington described the scene as “devastating.” The first five dogs in the most critical condition were removed and taken for veterinary care and boarding. Twenty-one more remain on the property. Because the site cannot be reached by truck, rescuers and sheriff’s deputies are using UTVs to transport each dog out.
The case comes as the rescue is already stretched thin, following another large hoarding case. With no county animal control services available, the Geneva County sheriff’s department and TARP are the only lifeline for the animals.
The group is urgently seeking donations to cover veterinary care, transport, food, boarding, and supplies. Contributions are tax-deductible and can be made by mail to P.O. Box 771, Troy, AL 36081, online at troyanimalrescueproject.org/donate, via CashApp at $troyanimalrescue.
