Neglected dogs looking for new homes

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Delray Six may have an ominous ring to it, but they are half a dozen dogs rescued from deplorable conditions just hours from death.

A pit bull puppy named Pepsi is full of fizz. He greedily chews at a tennis ball and then wrestles with her friend Lucy. They are two of six dogs that were seized from a home in Delray Beach last month. The dogs didn't have proper food or water and some were left to suffer from the heat in cages.

The worst case involved Sunny. The pit bull mix should have weighed between 35 and 40 pounds. When  animal care and control officers found her, she weighed just 10.
For the past four weeks, the dogs have been getting plenty of attention so they can be adopted out.

"Not only are you dealing with malnourishment and neglect. A lot of these dogs haven't been properly socialized. Haven't been treated like family pets," said Elizabeth Harfman, Animal Care Coordinator with Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control.

No one has been criminally charged in this case, but a judge last week gave Animal Control ownership of the dogs, and ordered  one of their former owners to pay 35-hundred dollars towards their care.

It has been a record summer for Animal Care and Control in the number of dogs they've seized from the heat. A county ordinance says you can't have any dogs tethered outside between 10 a-m and 5 p-m.

Thursday, Animal Care and Control held a unique meet and greet for prospective owners to look at the Delray Six. Their plight gained national and international attention as calls came in from as far away as Colorado and Canada. Before any of the dogs leave, Animal Care will conduct background checks and home visits so the dogs will go to good homes.

Carolyn Hipp of Palm Beach Gardens isn't adopting one of the Delray Six. She found Rhino, another pit bull that she fell in love with as soon as she met him.

"They're the most loyal dogs I've ever owned. Intelligent and if you give them good love and a good home, you'll have no problems," said Hipp.