DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. (KPTV) - Two people are facing multiple counts of animal neglect after nearly two dozen dogs were found suffering from heat exhaustion at a property in Redmond.
The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office said the investigation began on Monday after they received a report of animal neglect involving 23 dogs at a property in the 3100 block of NE O'Neil Way.
When deputies arrived at the property, the sheriff's office said they found four adult dogs and 19 puppies, all pit bull mixes, in metal wire crates with thick blankets. The temperature on Monday reached 100 degrees.
According to the sheriff's office, the dogs were panting heavily and showed signs of heat exhaustion.
The owners, identified by authorities as 45-year-old Nicole Allison Sly and 49-year-old Jeremy Shane De France, were not home and could not be reached by phone.
The dogs were removed from the property and taken to Brightside Animal Center.
Shelter staff gave the dogs fresh water and applied cooling compresses. It was reported that the puppies' body temperatures ranged from 103 to 104.7 degrees, consistent with heat exhaustion.
Thankfully, all puppies survived.
The sheriff's office said Sly and De France agreed to surrender all of the dogs. Both are facing 23 counts of animal neglect.
Anyone interested in adopting one of the dogs can visit Brightside at 1355 NE Hemlock Ave., call 541-923-0882, or online at www.brightsideanimals.org.