An additional seven dogs rescued from a hoarding situation in La Mesa entered foster homes Wednesday, but the San Diego Humane Society announced that 29 dogs taken from the apartment remain in their care.
After receiving medical attention, they are adjusting to life outside the 500-square-foot apartment, according to SDHS.
“Some of them are opening up a little bit, but there are a lot of dogs who are still shy and fearful,” said Nina Thompson, SDHS spokesperson.
A mother, named Christie after mystery author Agatha Christie, and her three puppies have been in foster care since shortly after the rescue.
A holiday rescue
A wellness check prompted the rescue. Late on Dec. 29, the La Mesa Police Department checked on a tenant facing eviction who had not been seen in several days. Officers found 40 dogs living in squalid conditions with dirt, grime and animal waste caked on the walls. After delivering food and water, SDHS triaged the animals the following morning.
Initially, SDHS could not tell who mothered the three neonate pups. The pups spent a night at an emergency foster placement to be bottle fed until a medical exam revealed their mother.
Thankfully, Christie accepted the pups when they were reunited.
Thompson told the San Diego Union-Tribune some of the dogs had never left the apartment.
“I suspect, I don’t even know if (Christie’s) been touched by humans,” said Michelle Cohn, foster parent of the mom and her pups. “Everything’s so new to her. I took her outside for the first time. I don’t even know if any of these dogs know what outside is … You could tell there was confusion.”
Cohn, of Del Cerro, specializes in fostering mother and puppies for SDHS.
Mother and pups in foster care
Christie’s litter was only a few days old when discovered. With eyes and ears closed, the pups did not witness their early living conditions. Christie, on the other hand, shows the after effects of her trauma.
“I’m used to the moms being protective of the puppies, but she was particularly shut down,” Cohn said.
Despite past abuse, Cohn sees Christie recovering to show curiosity and openness. Christie now demands pets instead of growling when Cohn checks on her.
“I’m starting to see touches of her personality, which is adorable. She’s so sweet, so cuddly. She’s got some playfulness in her,” Cohn said.
Christie’s ‘incredible’ progress impresses Thompson.
“It’s truly remarkable what just a couple weeks in a loving environment, or home environment, can do for an animal,” Thompson said.
Shelter under strain
Thoureau undergoes an eye exam at SDHS. (Photo courtesy San Diego Humane Society) 
Clarke during an eye exam. (Photo courtesy San Diego Humane Society) 
A rescue dog recovers from a spay and neuter procedure. (Photo courtesy San Diego Humane Society) 
Thoureau is one of the dogs receiving eye care. (Photo courtesy San Diego Humane Society) 
One rescue dog recovers after a spay and neuter procedure. (Photo courtesy San Diego Humane Society)
Many of the dogs inside SDHS shelters are in recovery from eye surgeries.
Their behavior is also making it harder to find foster placements. The dogs do not trust humans and huddle together.
Thompson remains hopeful that others will recover enough to join foster homes. However, SDHS is looking for the right environment: Quiet, with humans who understand dog behavior.
“We always need help with folks fostering our dogs. And even if they can’t foster one of these dogs from the hoarding case, if they take another dog out of a kennel, that still helps us,” she said.
Even before taking in 40 dogs in one day, SDHS shelters were overcrowded. Their care pushed the nonprofit to its limits.
“It stresses our system, because we were already over-capacity, and then these dogs need additional care, extra medical treatment,” Thompson said. “It’s a strain on everyone.”
Currently, 751 dogs stay in SDHS shelters. Adoptions are down 10%, extending the time many dogs wait for new homes. Dogs spend an average of 52 days in the shelter.
“It’s been incredibly tough, and it keeps getting worse,” Thompson said.
Follow the dogs’ progress or support SDHS at sdhumane.org/year-end-rescue.
