34 dogs rescued from apparent puppy mill in Scotts Valley

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. (KGO) -- The Santa Cruz Animal Shelter is overrun with black and white Boston Bull Terriers. The dogs were rescued from a home in Scotts Valley.

"The dogs did not have food," said Animal Services Officer Todd Stosuy. "The dogs did not have water. Some were living in excrement, some in urine."

Stousy says officials rescued 34 dogs who were living in stacked cages in dark rooms with little ventilation.

"The majority of them were really soliciting attention, wanted to come out, and soon as we opened the cages they jumped into our arms."

He says the owner was known to animal services as an illegal breeder. But they were finally able to get a warrant to go inside her home after an anonymous tip provided video of the conditions in the house.

Linzy Norton lives nearby. He didn't know about the breeding but didn't have a good impression of how his neighbor treated dogs.

"We would hear her swearing at her dogs loudly," Norton told ABC7 News. "It's good to hear because I've been worried about what's going on over there, especially if there's animals getting abused."

The influx of dogs is straining the shelter's resources. They need your help. If you can donate money to the Extra Mile Fund, it helps with their medical expenses.

Click here to donate to the Extra Mile Fund.