MOSES LAKE — Grant County Animal Outreach responded to a call from Grant County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday where a local citizen was in critical need of assistance with more than 20 dogs that had accumulated onto the property. 

“We were able to take 20 dogs off of the property and get them into our care,” said Grant County Animal Outreach Board President Sara Thompson-Tweedy. “Whatever remaining dogs are there we were able to provide food so that they’re well fed until we can get back and help with that situation.” 

Thompson Tweedy said the incident was an owner surrender and while it is unknown what led to the call that brought GCSO to the property, it is thought that the citizen was initially caring for the animals and had become overwhelmed with the number of puppies that had begun to be born on the property. 

Two of the dogs taken from the property have already found themselves in foster care while the remaining group is being cared for at the GCAO shelter, she said. Following the rescue, GCAO reached out to community partners Animal Rescue Friends Society of Grant County, Life Advocates for Pets of Grant County and Okandogs who all stepped up to help prepare for transfers and adoptions once the puppies are ready. 

“We’ve had a lot of donations coming in, in terms of food that we need to support these animals and getting the medical care that they need,” said Thompson-Tweedy. 

While the number of dogs in need of rescue was of high volume, this is not an uncommon situation for the county. She said that in cases such as this, an owner will often feed and begin caring for a dog that shows up on the property and once it has puppies, things can quickly run outside of the owner’s control. 

“There are a lot of well-intentioned people who end up in unaffordable situations and so they need help,” she said. “It’s fortunate in a sense that it came onto our radar and we were able to help and that’s what Grant County Animal Outreach and our partners do.” 

Thompson-Tweedy said that this situation is a good reminder that it is important to get pets spayed and neutered and that low cost spay and neuter clinics are equally as important. 

For those looking to assist GCAO and local animal rescues, she said the shelter will put out calls for help on their social media pages whenever a situation such as this arises. The shelter also has an Amazon wish list and donations open on their website, grantcountyanimaloutreach.org. 

GCSO was still processing information Monday and would have information ready for public release early this week, according to a spokesman.  

    One of the litters of puppies in a crate following their rescue. The puppies taken from the property were transported to the GCAO shelter where they will be cared for until they are ready to be adopted.
  

    Tantan, the tan dog pictured, is the mother of one of the puppy litters found at the property. GCAO Board President Sara Thompson-Tweedy said the shelter was able to take in around 20 dogs from the property with many being puppies.