Penn. Shelter Searching for Homes for 10 Working Dogs Who Endured Neglect After Retirement

The Pennsylvania SPCA is working to adopt out numerous dogs who formerly worked for the U.S. military and government

• The Pennsylvania SPCA is looking for forever homes for 10 retired working dogs

• After their retirement, the dogs were taken in by a different organization, which did not provide the canines with proper care

• The dogs were found living in dirty cages without fresh water before they were moved to the Pennsylvania SPCA

A Pennsylvania shelter wants 10 former working dogs to get a second chance at a good life.

According to a May 24 Facebook post from the Pennsylvania SPCA (PSPCA), the retired canines all worked with the U.S. government or military when they were active working dogs. After retiring from their official capacities, a rescue organization offered to care for the dogs.

The Pennsylvania SPCA added on social media that the organization that initially took in the retired working dogs promised the pets "a place to settle and find new forever homes."

"But instead of receiving a blissful retirement, they were faced with the unfathomable. Respected dogs that once sacrificed everything for humankind were now subjected to a life of filth and neglect," the post shared.

As a result, the Pennsylvania SPCA, which is now caring for the dogs, is seeking forever families for the canines who will be devoted to helping the dogs enjoy their remaining years.

Nicole Wilson, the PSPCA's director of animal law enforcement and shelter services, told CBS News Philadelphia, "These guys need their retirement home, and we're looking to the public to help us with that."

Related: Dogs in Abuse Case Up for Adoption After Rescue from Deplorable Conditions: 'You Couldn't Even Recognize Them'

In its Facebook post, the PSPCA shared more about the conditions the dogs lived in after retirement and how the PSPCA came to care for the canines.

"The Bureau of Dog Law conducted a routine inspection, they alerted our Animal Law Enforcement team with concerns. The dogs' kennels were covered in feces and blood and their water bowls were green from lack of cleaning. Bodies that were once lean and exuded strength now withered away with untreated medical conditions," the PSPCA wrote about the conditions the dogs were found in.

The post continued, "What was supposed to be a haven for these heroes ended up being the very opposite."

According to the PSPCA, in February, the nonprofit took in close to 30 former working dogs—German shepherds, Belgian Malinois dogs, and a Labrador retriever—from the Northumberland County facility. Of those dogs, 10 canines are still looking for homes. Several retired dogs recovered by the PSPCA have gone on to be adopted by their former handlers.

Related: Delaware Makes Rescue Dog Official State Dog in 'Historic Moment' for Animal Welfare

The PSPCA added in its Facebook post that the owner of the Northumberland County organization pled guilty to animal cruelty months after the dogs were found in neglectful conditions. The owner's kennel license was also revoked.

"People start out on a path where they have the best intentions, but those intentions are lost when they are no longer able to say no and no longer able to see how they are creating harm now," Wilson told NBC10 of the deteriorated conditions within the shuddered rescue facility.

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Wilson further noted to CBS, "For dogs that serviced us so well, the least we can do is provide them with the service of clean housing and medical care."

"These dogs performed a service for us to keep the public safe, to keep our soldiers safe, and so our goal is to provide them with the retirement that they earned," she told the outlet, noting that the SPCA is seeking out potential adopters who have experience handling working dogs for the remaining canines.

To learn more about the dogs and to support the Pennsylvania SPCA, visit the nonprofit's official website.

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