Florida Rescue Saves 16 Abandoned Puppies Found with 'Many Fleas,' Scrapes, and Scars

A Florida animal rescue is caring for 16 puppies left outside a convenience store.

Suncoast Animal League, based in Palm Harbor, Fla., took in the pack of pups, according to the rescue's July 11 Facebook post. Suncoast Animal League added on social media that someone found the puppies outside a convenience store and brought the little dogs to Pasco County Animal Services.

"The pick-up truck pulled into the parking lot of Pasco County Animal Services with two dog crates in the back bed. Inside the crates were fifteen 7-9 week old puppies. As staff rushed to get bowls of water for the puppies, the man explained he had found them 30 minutes before next to a 7-11 convenient sic store inside the crates," Suncoast Animal League wrote on Facebook.

The July 11 post claimed 15 puppies, ranging from seven to nine weeks old, were found outside the convenience store, but a more recent Facebook update on July 12 adjusted the number to 16 puppies.

Suncoast Animal League's original July 11 post includes images of the puppies in two black crates outside Pasco County Animal Services.

After the Good Samaritan brought the puppies to Pasco County Animal Service, the shelter contacted Suncoast Animal League for help because many animal shelters have halted new intakes due to a recent dog influenza outbreak.

"We immediately understood this was an emergency," Suncoast Animal League wrote. 

"Pasco County Animal Services has been under an intake hold due to the highly contagious dog influenza that has been circulating large animal shelters," the Florida rescue continued. "Their kennel buildings have been under quarantine for several weeks, and under no circumstances could these 15 puppies be exposed. We agreed to help with the emergency, and their staff got moving quickly."

Pasco County Animal Services provided the puppies -

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with initial medical care before Suncoast Animal League picked them up and brought them to the rescue to continue treatment.

As part of its July 11 Facebook post, Suncoast Animal League asked for donations and fosters to help care for the puppies. In its social media follow-up the next day, the rescue noted that the community quickly responded to its pleas for help and that all 16 puppies are now in foster homes. 

"That is such an amazing testament to what this animal-loving community can do when challenged. Bravo to all of you," Suncoast Animal League shared. 

The rescue's update included photos of the dogs resting at their new foster homes, where they are already receiving plenty of attention and affection.

"Each of the 16 puppies is enjoying one-on-one time with families that have opened their hearts to these sweet, lost souls. But they are lost no more," the rescue wrote in the update. "Thank you friends for helping us help them. We love you for it! And you keep us inspired to keep going."

Fox News 5 reported on Monday, July 15, that the puppies are thought to be from two different litters; some of the dogs resemble pitbull mixes, and some resemble Jack Russell terriers.

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Suncoast director Rick Chaboudy detailed the condition of the dogs to the outlet, saying, "These puppies had so many fleas you can't even imagine, and a lot of them have cuts and scrapes and scars. It could be from puppy wrestling or from living in cages with wires poking out." 

The outlet added that the Pasco County Sheriff's Office is currently not investigating the puppies' abandonment.

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