Fourteen puppies were found abandoned in Gilbert on Monday afternoon after their owner went on vacation, Gilbert police said.
Annette Patterson, 43, was in California when neighbors reported that 14 puppies, two female adult dogs and four male adult dogs were home alone.
Food and water had been left for the dogs; however, a couple of the dogs had medical problems, Gilbert police spokesman Mike Marino said.
The animals were exposed to heat, and there were feces all over the place, said Jodi Polanski, of Lost Our Home Pet Foundation, where the dogs were taken.
“The puppies are in pretty good condition, considering,” Polanski said.
She said that one of the female dogs may have valley fever, and that her group was having all of the animals examined by veterinarians.
“We’d love to get these dogs adopted and to get them their vaccinations,” Polanski said.
Patterson is expected to be charged with animal cruelty/abandonment, Marino said.
