In a filthy abandoned rental home in Middle Tennessee, volunteers with a local rescue found 20 small dogs left behind after the owner moved out, including two females late in pregnancy and others so weak they had been surviving on toilet water and tossed-in food. Video from the scene shows rooms piled with filth, a torn mattress by the kitchen, and dogs crawling with fleas.
Volunteers Describe Grim Scene Inside Abandoned Rental
Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue said it received an emergency plea on Tuesday and learned the dogs had been left in the house about two weeks earlier, with volunteers describing them as "scared to death" and "eaten in fleas," as reported by WSMV. The rescue's footage shows dogs cowering in rooms spattered with filth and a torn-up mattress near the kitchen. The group said the county where the home sits had no available shelter or animal-control resources to help, so the nonprofit had to handle the pull on its own.
Foster Network Scrambles To Save The Pack
Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue, a foster-based 501(c)(3) in Middle Tennessee, says volunteers immediately moved the animals into foster homes so each dog could receive medical exams, flea treatment and vaccinations. The group's website and donation page list PayPal, Venmo and a Chewy wishlist for supplies, and volunteers are coordinating transport and vet care. Staff say the dogs will need follow-up medical attention and space in foster homes while they recover.
Possible Charges And Tennessee Law
The rescue told WSMV that if the owner is located, they could face 20 counts of cruelty to animals. Tennessee law defines cruelty to animals to include abandoning animals or failing unreasonably to provide necessary food, water, or shelter, and a first conviction is generally a Class A misdemeanor while repeat offenses can be felonies, according to Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-202. The statute also allows courts to order the surrender of animals and to prohibit convicted people from having custody of animals in the future.
Case Highlights Strain On Local Shelters
Rescues and shelters say this case echoes recent spikes in abandonment across the region and underscores capacity limits for municipal systems, which have seen animals left at shelter gates in recent months, as reported in a story on pets dumped at shelter gates. The Nashville Humane Association urges microchipping, spay/neuter and licensed rehoming channels to prevent dangerous abandonments. Volunteers say when municipal resources are full, small nonprofits are left to absorb emergency pulls that strain staff and veterinary partners.
How Locals Can Help The Dogs
Proverbs 12:10 is asking for veterinary support, fosters, and supplies; its donation page lists immediate options and a Chewy wishlist for needed items. You can view the rescue's adoptable animals on Petfinder and drop supplies at the rescue's weekly Petco event in Bellevue, the organization says. If you believe an animal is being neglected, contact local law enforcement or your county animal-control office so authorities can investigate.
