Dogs seized from Weymouth home will soon be up for adoption

WEYMOUTH — The Animal Rescue League of Boston and local police removed 31 Chihuahua-type dogs from a home in Weymouth due to unsanitary conditions last week and are now looking for homes for the small pets.

Weymouth police said they executed a search warrant on Forest Street on Monday, Jan. 11 after receiving complaints about overcrowding. Police and the local animal control officer were assisted by the rescue league and animal control officers from Scituate, Braintree and Cohasset.

The Animal Rescue League took in 21 dogs and the other 10 were taken to the Scituate Animal Shelter. One of the dogs needed emergency care and was taken to a nearby animal hospital. 

The dogs were removed due to unsanitary conditions, which is typically a byproduct of overcrowding, according to the rescue league. 

Lt. Alan Borgal, an investigative specialist with the rescue league, said the dogs appear to have been kept in an illegal kennel and that Weymouth police are seeking charges against the dog owners. Borgal, of Quincy, said authorities were familiar with the family keeping the dogs and that they were already on a plan to reduce the number of dogs in the home. 

© Joe Difazio/The Patriot Ledger
31 Chihuahua-type dogs were rescued from a Weymouth home by police and the Animal Rescue League of Boston.

“This has been an ongoing situation with animal control,” Borgal said.

Borgal said it was important for people buying dogs to check to make sure the kennel they are using is licensed. 

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One of the dogs that was removed needed emergency care and was immediately transferred from the home to the VCA South Shore Weymouth Animal Hospital. The remaining 20 that the Animal Rescue League took were brought to their Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center and received veterinary exams. 

© Joe Difazio/The Patriot Ledger
31 Chihuahua-type dogs were rescued from a Weymouth home by police and the Animal Rescue League of Boston.

Several of the dogs were diagnosed with heart murmurs and dental disease, and three will require surgery. Four of the dogs are being held in custody as legal matters play out, but 14 of them will be up for adoption later in the week, according to the Animal Rescue League. 

The Animal Rescue League said it urges people to reach out to their local animal control or the rescue league’s law enforcement office by calling 617-426-9170 x 110 or emailing [email protected] should they know of an overcrowding situation.

The rescue league said in a statement that overcrowding can lead to serious health concerns not only for the animals, but for people living among the animals as well. Overcrowding often leads to under-socialized animals, creating ongoing behavioral issues, particularly for older animals, according to the rescue league. 

Joe Difazio can be reached at [email protected]. 

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Dogs seized from Weymouth home will soon be up for adoption