74 Dogs Rescued From Philadelphia Home: Pennsylvania SPCA

PHILADELPHIA — More than six dozen dogs, nearly all Chihuahuas, were rescued from a Philadelphia property last week.

The Pennsylvania SPCA's Animal Law Enforcement team rescued 74 dogs from a property in the city’s Kensington neighborhood in the late evening of Thursday, May 11 due to concerns for their welfare.

The PSPCA's officers seized 73 Chihuahua-type dogs and one Rottweiler mix-type dog from a property on the 1900 block of North Orianna Street.

The Philadelphia Police Department was at the property for a separate matter and found what they believed to be about 40 dogs living in unsanitary conditions in the row home, the PSCPA said.

The PSPCA’s team was dispatched to the scene where they found nearly double the number of dogs initially reported.

The dogs were removed from the property over concerns for unsanitary conditions and lack of veterinary care, as well as the significant number of dogs.

In the city of Philadelphia, no more than 13 spayed/neutered dogs are permitted in one home or two unaltered dogs.

The dogs were brought to the PSPCA's Philadelphia headquarters to undergo forensic examinations and to be cared for by the shelter's medical team.

All of the animals were surrendered to the Pennsylvania SPCA by the owner.

After medical examinations, the animals will be available for adoption.

"A quiet Thursday evening for our Animal Law Enforcement team transformed into a large scale rescue,” said Nicole Wilson, Director of Animal Law Enforcement and Shelter Operations at the Pennsylvania SPCA. “With a shelter already full of adoptable dogs as well as those tied up in court cases, our team never hesitates to rescue animals who are victims of cruelty and neglect. In this case we added 74 more dogs, all of whom will receive the best care and a new chapter through adoption.”

The Pennsylvania SPCA’s Philadelphia headquarters is at capacity, and seeking adopters for the Chihuahuas starting today.

Those interested in adopting can find the organization’s policies and procedures online here.

The investigation into animal cruelty and neglect is ongoing, and charges are pending the conclusion of the full investigation.

Anyone with information about this case, or other cases involving animal cruelty, is urged to call the Pennsylvania SPCA's Cruelty Hotline at 866-601-SPCA.

Tips can be left anonymously.