After Pima Animal Care Center rescued 28 dogs from a puppy mill, officials say they were all adopted within hours.
The shelter took in the dogs from a home near Swan and 26th Street Tuesday afternoon and once they became available for adoption Wednesday, the shelter says they all were adopted by Wednesday night.
About two dozen people still waited in line Thursday, hoping to get one of the dogs rescued from that puppy mill.
"It's absolutely unusual," said Karen Hollish with Pima Animal Care Center. She unfortunately had to tell the crowd that they had all been adopted Wednesday night.
Those waiting were given a free adoption coupon.
"We're hoping the community will channel their energy for these puppy mill survivors into the many other deserving dogs and cats we have looking for homes out here," said Hollish.
Crystal Caruso was one of the lucky people who got to take home one of the puppy mill survivors, a poodle named Molly.
"Her hair was a mess," she said. "Really nasty. They took her, they shaved her, she had really bad cuts."
She says Molly initially seemed scared of her but after interacting with her for a bit, she says the poodle became very attached.
The dogs taken from the puppy mill were all in relatively good condition according to shelter staff. Many of the dogs that were rescued by investigators were Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers and Maltese mixes.
Investigators say these dogs were being bred and sold for profit. They all needed to be fixed and many needed dental work.
It was the condition of the home that led animal officers to take the dogs away.
"There were just crates stacked on top of crates on top of crates," said Hollish. "It was very cluttered, the dogs didn't have a lot of room to move around or a lot of outside time."
The shelter says the owner was very cooperative with officers and willingly signed the dogs into PACC's care. The case is still open, but officials say the owner likely won't face any citations.
There is no law in Arizona to limit the number of animals someone has, or to stop them from breeding and selling dogs from their home.
This marks the third hoarding case where PACC has had to intervene this month. On April 1, PACC rescued 48 cats and kittens from a home after the owner was evicted and abandoned the cats.
In mid-April, PACC saved more than 20 cats from a home near Kolb and 22nd after the owner also abandoned the cats.
PACC still has 300 dogs available for adoption at the shelter located at 4000 N. Silverbell Rd.
PACC has reduced adoption fees to $20 because of overcrowding issues through April 30 for all pets six months or older. The fee includes the pet's neuter or spay surgery, vaccinations, microchip and license if applicable.
Anyone who is interested in helping PACC with lifesaving medical care can make a tax-deductible gift to the center's medical fund.
