Volunteers with Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS), just outside Fredericksburg, care for 22 dogs rescued from hoarding in Lawrence County, Kentucky. The animals had been living in deplorable outdoor conditions.
The rescue, which occurred on March 20, was part of a coordinated effort between ODHS and Squishy Face Crew (SFC), a Fredericksburg-based foster-focused rescue group. The ODHS team made a nine-hour round trip to meet a transport team in Beckley, West Virginia, and bring the dogs to safety.
Initially, 70 dogs lived on the property. However, a flood drowned most of them. Only 22 survived—ranging in age from two and a half weeks to eight years—and were surrendered by the property owner. ODHS volunteers took in 15, while SFC cared for the remaining seven.
Upon intake, ODHS found the dogs in deplorable condition. “Their nails were extremely long, and they were covered in dirt and feces,” said ODHS volunteer spokesperson Lenora Kruk-Mullanaphy. “They were understandably scared, but they’re slowly beginning to come around with the help of our volunteers.”
One of the youngest rescues, a two-and-a-half-week-old puppy named Neville, is still nursing with his mother, who also survived the ordeal. She is the oldest dog rescued, at eight years old, and is blind in one eye.
So far, six of the dogs have been placed into foster homes. The organization seeks foster care for the remaining dogs as they recover and begin their journey toward adoption.
“These are the situations that break your heart,” said Anna Swann, a longtime ODHS volunteer who led the transport team. “We’re giving them the chance to live the lives they deserve, in warm homes with people who love them.”
Despite the horrific conditions, no legal charges were filed against the person responsible for the hoarding. “Because the owner agreed to surrender the dogs, no legal consequences were pursued,” Kruk-Mullanaphy explained. “Often shelters will offer the option to surrender in lieu of pressing charges. While that’s frustrating, pursuing legal action in large cases like this can overwhelm shelters and lead to mass euthanasia due to space and legal holding time.”
ODHS is entirely volunteer-run and operates with the support of more than 300 fosters. The organization is located at 3602 Lafayette Boulevard near Fredericksburg, and holds adoption events weekly:
- Wednesdays: 5–7 p.m.
- Fridays: 6–8 p.m.
- Saturdays: 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Sundays: 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Advance applications are encouraged and take priority over walk-ins.
To learn more about adopting, fostering, donating, or volunteering, visit olddominionhumanesociety.org.
