Nearly 60 dogs were found shot or poisoned to death Thursday afternoon in north Arkansas, authorities say.

The remains of 57 dogs were found scattered through a remote forest area in southern Searcy County, just off of Arkansas 254 in the Chimes-Trace Ridge Area south of Marshall, KY3 reported.

John Magruder, manager of Searcy County Humane Society, searched for surviving dogs and so far rescued at least four.

"I don't really have any words for what it makes me feel like," he told the news station. "I've worked with dogs all my life and I love them a whole bunch and I just don't deal well with this, but I'm doing my best so I can save the ones I can."

Authorities believe the dogs were taken out to the timber land to be killed.

"Systematically just start shooting and just leaving them lying and not even making sure that they're dead. I just can't imagine somebody doing that," Sheriff Joey Pruitt said.

Suspects are still being sought in the case.