Nearly a hundred starving and abused dogs were rescued from a single house

More than 90 malnourished Shih-Tzu dogs were rescued from a filthy breeding house.

The pooches were living in horrendous conditions and needed urgent vet care.

They were split and distributed to the RSPCA centres in southern England and are now in need of loving homes.

Neglected and abused

The RSPCA is looking to re-home a record number of Shih-Tzus dogs and their puppies after they were found neglected in a breeding house in Torquay, Devon, England last year.

Upon discovery, the animals were malnourished and infested with fleas and worms. They were living in filthy conditions and covered in faeces.

The charity has launched an appeal to find loving owners for the original 96 of the breed, along with around 50 puppies that have been born since.

According to its spokesperson Sammy Howard, the RSPCA discovered the dogs as a result of a noise complaint by a resident nearby.

Nearly 150 dogs need caring owners

Although 96 pups were rescued and taken to different RSPCA branches for rehabilitation, there are now around 150 of them as many were pregnant at that time.

The Cornwall branch alone is now looking to re-home 13 of them. According to the staff,many pets came to the shelter fearful as a result of their difficult start to life, so new owners must be patient and support the dogs as they go through training and socialisation.

Sammy added:

They have had a difficult start to life and will not just slot into a home, and be grateful that someone took them on.

According to her, the pooches ‘will be terrified and may take months before they start trusting people’, which is a ‘hard sell’ when asking for someone to welcome a dog into their home.

But the charity assures they ‘won’t give up hope that there are people out there for these dogs.’

Potential adopters can apply here.

Head to RSPCA's website to learn more about the charity and support their vital animal welfare and rescue work.

Sources used:

- Independent: 'More than 90 shih-tzus rescued from ‘unsafe’ home malnourished and covered in faeces'