A furry, gray and brown speckled Chihuahua wagged his tail while sitting in a pen inside the Plainfield Area Humane Society on Tuesday.

It was one of 130 cats and dogs authorities seized overnight at a house in Scotch Plains that was operating as a suspected illegal puppy mill. Criminal charges are forthcoming, authorities said.

Plainfield Area Humane Society Director Elijah Brice-Middleton said his shelter alone seized 42 animals, including three dozen dogs. And the gray Chihuahua, he’ll be adopting it himself.

“I saw him in the house and I don’t know,” Brice-Middleton told NJ Advance Media. "He caught my eye. He spoke to me. He said, ‘Save me!’”

Two Chihuahua's at the Plainfield Area Humane Society received 36 dogs and six cats taken from a home in Scotch Plains.Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for

Scotch Plains police confirmed they were investigating the activities in the house with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, but did not elaborate.

Three dog cages were observed in front of the home Tuesday morning, but no one answered the door when an NJ Advance Media reporter rang the doorbell and knocked.

In addition to the cats and dogs at the Plainfield shelter, even more animals were collected by 11 other shelters, the prosecutor’s office said.

“We thank both the Scotch Plains Police Department and the approximately dozen shelters for helping us get these animals safely,” the prosecutor’s office told NJ Advance Media in a statement.

Now, the animals will need homes.

Brice-Middleton holds a Golden Retriever puppy.Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for

The shelter’s director said he was unsure if the animals were all full-bred. An array of Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Pekingese and three Golden Retriever puppies were picked up by the Plainfield shelter.

“For the most part, the dogs were mostly well-taken care of,” said Brice-Middleton, but he declined to speak about the condition of the cats.

Brice-Middleton said he will name the tiny speckled dog he plans to adopt Achilles, after the Greek warrior in Homer’s “Iliad.”

“Because it means strong warrior and you know where he came from,” he added.

All the animals that were taken to the shelter get veterinary care, behavioral evaluations and any needed shots, Brice-Middleton said. He encouraged those interested in adopting the animals to visit the shelter, a no-kill facility, located at 75 Rock Ave. in Plainfield.

It costs anywhere from $175 to $450 to adopt dogs, depending on their age.

Additional contact information about the shelter can be found on the Plainfield Area Human Society’s website.

Volunteer Kristina Barbayanni holds a Chihuahua.Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for

Volunteer Jill Colandrea with one of the rescued dogs.Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for

A Golden Retriever, one of the 36 dogs and six cats taken from a home in Scotch Plains.Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for

One of the dogs the Plainfield Area Humane Society.Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for

Shelter volunteer Colandrea holds two Chihuahuas.Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for

One of the dogs at the the Plainfield Area Humane Society on Feb. 18, 2020.Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for

Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @BeccaPanico.