The SPCA of Wake County removed the canines from the home and is helping the dogs recover and enjoy fresh air, some for the first time

Authorities rescued 101 dogs from an “apparent puppy mill” in a Raleigh, North Carolina, home, according to a Wake County shelter.

The SPCA of Wake County received a phone call on June 4, alerting them to 101 dogs living in “egregious conditions” at one residence. Within the hour, rescuers say they made their way to the property and began escorting the dogs to safety, SPCA of Wake County wrote in an Instagram post.

“101 dogs were removed yesterday from an apparent puppy mill inside a Wake County home,” the SPCA of Wake County wrote in the June 5 social media post.

The nonprofit animal shelter partnered with Raleigh Animal Control to ensure all the animals found on the property were safely transported out of the home. The two rescue agencies found the dogs in cages crammed with 5 to 6 dogs stacked from floor to ceiling in the “unassuming” home, per the SPCA of Wake County’s website. The organization also reported that rescuers found uncaged dogs roaming a maze of “tight, unsanitary spaces” inside the residence.

All the dogs were found surrounded by their own waste, and some recovered canines included pregnant dogs and mothers nursing their puppies.

After the rescue, the SPCA brought 19 of the dogs found in the home to their facility to begin immediately nursing them back to health.

“We are working quickly to medically assess each dog and begin providing treatment,” SPCA wrote on Instagram.

In the photos posted from the rescue, dogs of various ages and breeds are seen with matted fur and in a filthy state. Many of the dogs rescued were a form of “doodle” mix, Samantha Ranlet, a spokesperson for the SPCA of Wake County, told CBS 17 in an interview.

Pomeranians, chihuahuas, Yorkies, and many toy poodle mixes were among the breeds found in the house. A golden retriever was among a group of dogs discovered in a locked cage in the back of the house next to another cage filled with golden doodle puppies.

“The dogs in our care are being medically evaluated, and some have been moved into foster homes,” Ranlet told CBS 17. “They will be placed up for adoption once they have received veterinary care and recuperated. We need to make sure they are healthy and rehabilitated so they can start fresh as somebody’s family members.”

Raleigh Animal Control visited the home after receiving a phone call about chickens living on the property in poor conditions, Raleigh police told CBS 17. When officers arrived on location to survey the property, they discovered the dogs.

“During the investigation, officers discovered multiple dogs living in unsanitary conditions,” the Raleigh Police Department said in a news release. “All animals have since been placed in various rescues and will face a long road to recovery.”

On June 6, the SPCA posted an update on the dogs it took into their care. Since their rescue, the dogs have enjoyed a spa day that included baths, haircuts, and plenty of pampering.

“These dogs have been getting the spa day of their lives — and their first taste of fresh air, possibly ever,” the SPCA wrote in the updated post.

The organization also thanked its supporters for all the donations that made this rescue work possible.

“Thank you to everyone who has donated or reached out in support of these efforts ❤️ This rescue is a big undertaking, and we can’t do it without you.”