20 Dogs Rescued from Aberdeen Area Home; Charges Possible

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — Volunteers with the Aberdeen Area Humane Society are caring for 20 Shih Tzu-mix dogs rescued from what officials describe as horrendous conditions.

Shelter officials and sheriff's deputies responding to a tip last week found the dogs in an unoccupied rural house, suffering from years of neglect.

Shelter manager Stacey Franks tells the American News (http://bit.ly/1RJVvUw ) that some of the dogs had to be dug out of piles of feces, and some had hair so long and matted they appeared three or four times as big as their normal size. One had a wire around its neck, embedded in its fur.

Franks estimates medical expenses at about $6,000.

Brown County Chief Deputy State's Attorney Chris White says his office could decide to file animal abuse charges against the dogs' owner.