Photos courtesy of PAWS and More

Thirteen dogs from a single residence were turned over to authorities Monday morning.

According to the Washington County Communications Office, at 9 a.m. authorities were notified of a West Chester residence with 13 dogs without food, water, or shelter. PAWS and More offered to take in the canines if the owner was willing to give them up. Personnel from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office spoke to the dog owner who wanted the shelter to retrieve all of the medium-sized mixed-breed dogs.

Nine of the dogs were taken to PAWS and More, and the four others will go to the shelter as space allows. PAWS and More has reached out to area shelters for assistance with the case. Director of PAWS and More Amber Talbot says the dogs had been left to reproduce and most of them are between nine months and a year old. She adds they are all nice but undersocialized and it will take a couple of weeks before they are ready for adoption.

The shelter is accepting monetary donations to help get the dogs up to date on vaccinations, spay and neuter services, and to cover medical screenings. Talbot says the case will cost the shelter approximately $1,500 for basic medical expenses.

Donations can be made through PayPal on the PAWS and More website or through the shelter’s Facebook page, designate that it is for the 13 dogs.