The Ohio SPCA says it had to act immediately to prevent dozens of animals from dying at a man’s home in Scioto County.

The Ohio SPCA says it had to act immediately to prevent dozens of animals from dying at a man’s home in Scioto County. The group says the 30 dogs and one cat were found Tuesday living in unspeakable conditions in Scioto County.

Three animals had already died.

This is no way to treat your best friend. But this is where and how the Ohio SPCA says it found more than 30 dogs yesterday. "We knew immediately that every animal had to leave, right then and there,” said Theresa Landon, Director of the Ohio SPCA. Landon led the team that seized the animals from the property of 80-year-old Calvin Pennington, who is charged with cruelty to animals.

"Not only were they hungry, but there was no running water on the property,” said Landon. “So they were not getting enough water, enough food, and absolutely no medical care."

This was the terrible result: Dogs covered in parasites, their skin so diseased with mange that some are completely bald. "Their bodies can only take so much. And eventually they will die from this. I mean, there were dogs dead on the property,” Landon said.

Just a few of the dogs rescued on Tuesday.

He adds Pennington may not have intended for his animals to suffer, but the end result was the same. "The property was absolutely filthy. The homes were filthy. There was a small home and a trailer. Both of them were condemned by the Health Department before we left. It's hard to believe that this gentleman was even living inside that trailer, because our people in full Haz-Mat still had great difficulty breathing."

"Just because he doesn't mean to hurt them, doesn't mean that they're not hurt in the end,” said Veterinarian Michelle Gonzalez. She owns Rascal Animal Hospital, where the dogs were sheltered overnight. "One of the things that is kind of sad about this case is that these are all preventable conditions,” Gonzalez said. “And they are easily treated. So we're talking about these dogs suffering and dying from things that just a simple trip to the veterinarian can take care of."

Landon says what she sees here makes her sick. But it's the cases she can't see that worry her even more. "We know there's a lot of them that we're not being called on that are suffering. At least these guys were able to get the help that they needed."

The animals will be cared for by rescue groups until they are well enough to be vaccinated and then put up for adoption. In the meantime, the Ohio SPCA is asking for support to help cover the costs of their care.

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