Watch CBS News

Shelter Overwhelmed With Requests To Adopt Dogs Rescued From North Bergen Hoarder

NORTH BERGEN, N.J.(CBSNewYork) -- Dozens of dogs rescued from a hoarder's house in North Bergen need help.

As CBS2's Steve Langford reported, they are being cleaned up and need a new home.

Just two days ago, 23 pups, plus two females and a male dog were rescued from what is believed to be an animal hoarder's house in North Bergen.

With constant monitoring, some much needed veterinary attention, and lots of love from Kristi Heller and other volunteers at the Bergen County Protect And Rescue Foundation, it's a new day and certainly a new lease on life for the animals.

"These dogs have gone from scared and dehydrated to happy and playful," Heller said.

"They didn't appear to need much, so what we did for them was the basic medical care of de-worming them, making sure they were fed, water, things like that. The parents were more skittish, the puppies were in full puppy mode," shelter manager Doria Melendez said.

Since the story broke, Heller said the phones have not stopped ringing, and there has been a steady stream of dog lovers eager to take one of the rescues home.

Melendez said she has never seen this kind of interest in adoption.

"They maxed out our e-mail, they maxed out our voicemail. We have to be way over five hundred," she said.

The vets said, given the deplorable conditions, the dogs are in relatively good shape, and should be ready to go to a new happy home in just a few weeks.

The shelter said it can use donations of everything from newspaper and detergent to dog food.

Donations can be dropped off at 302 2nd Street, Cliffside Parke, NJ, 07010.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.