42 dogs seized from a home in Shepherd, Montana, in September, and 28 of those animals have been moved into the vacant former Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter building to be nursed back to health and prepared for adoption.

Deputies reported seeing dogs shoved together in cages who hadn’t been fed in a long time; the animals were described as malnourished, underweight and kept in unsanitary, crowded conditions. Captain Kent O’Donnell of the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office said, “We had some that were in pretty rough shape. All of them were underweight.” This seizure was conducted as part of an investigation into animal neglect and cruelty, consistent with how authorities typically act when there is evidence of abuse, neglect, or cruelty under animal cruelty laws.

Two people have been named as suspects in the case: Katie Marie Milliken and Rebekkah Lynn Collins. The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office led the seizure and coordinated initial care for the animals before relocating the remaining dogs to the former shelter building.

The facility on the city’s property had been unused since an incinerator malfunction in September left it out of service. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality notified the city about incinerator failures in November, and city officials say the building was the only available covered space as temperatures dropped. City Administrator Chris Kukulski said officials moved quickly to house the dogs because of the weather. “They were desperate to find a space with this cold weather snap. We had the space. It was a simple decision,” he said. Kukulski added that the building will be removed if the community decides to build a new shelter: “If the community is going to build a brand-new shelter, then it’s not needed. It’s going to be removed.” He cautioned that any long-term plans will take time: “Whether that will ultimately happen, those decisions have to be made in the future. That unfortunately is going to take some time.” Animal welfare organizations often encourage communities to support local animal shelters, including during emergencies, to help relieve overcrowding and staff shortages.

The dogs are being cared for and made available for adoption through the Newfoundland Club of America Rescue Organization and other partners named in the response. Officials said animals are being nursed back to health and evaluated for placement. National shelter data indicate that a majority of dogs entering animal shelters are adopted, suggesting a hopeful outlook for these dogs as they await permanent homes.

Community members have focused on finding permanent homes. Local rescuers and volunteers have assisted in daily feeding, cleaning, and medical intake as staff work to stabilize the animals and match them with adopters or foster families. Their hope is that these dedicated efforts will help more of the dogs, including older ones who often have a harder time finding homes, get adopted.

The relocation marked the first time animals have been housed in the facility since the incinerator malfunction rendered it inactive, a move officials described as temporary but necessary given the circumstances.

Investigators and animal-care organizations continue to coordinate care and placement. The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office remains the lead agency on the seizure and initial welfare actions for the dogs.

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Original reporting: view the original article.