Twenty-four French Bulldogs taken from a single home are up for adoption this Saturday at the Denver Animal Shelter.
The pint-sized canines were removed from a local residence last month on suspicion that they were kept in cruel conditions.
"They’re really cute," said Kerra Jones, spokesperson for the Denver Department of Environmental Health. "For us to have this many of one kind of breed is rare, except for maybe Chihuahuas.
Update: Fewer than 24 dogs will be available because Frenchie breeders are claiming ownership of about half the dogs.
The event at the Denver Animal Shelter begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26.
The city is asking $400 for each dog, significantly higher than normal adoption fees, due to the extensive medical care. That also includes a microchip, license, vaccinations and the spaying or neutering of the animal.
You should "arrive early and be prepared for longer-than-usual wait times," according to staff.
The Frenchies have undergone surgery and treatment for assorted medical issues, including the breathing problems typical of the breed. Medical staff also have removed rotten teeth, and treated the animals for giardia, worms, severe infections and bite wounds.
The city is anticipating heavy demand for the dogs, which the American Kennel Club ranked as the sixth most popular in 2016, mostly due to their portability and adorably urbane nature, in my opinion.
Police said the dogs were found in awful conditions.
The dogs were living in the southeast Denver home of a "well-known woman in the French bulldog rescue community," as 9News reported. Marleen Puzak faces 12 felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and 35 misdemeanor charges in connection to the case, according to court documents.
Police came to Puzak's home early in July after receiving calls about the dogs. An officer smelled dog urine and feces from eight feet outside the house, according to an officer's affidavit. Conditions were so unsanitary that the officer donned protective gear before entering, the affidavit states.
Some of the 35 dogs were roaming the house, while others were in crates. The officer eventually found twelve dead dogs in two freezers, according to the court document.
A total of 35 dogs were confiscated from the home, but only 28 are on offer this weekend, including 24 French bulldogs, an English bulldog and three Boston terriers, according to Jones. The adoption fees for the non-Frenchies are in the normal range of $95 to $150, not $400.
Three confiscated dogs were euthanized after assessments of their medical and behavioral conditions, while others were sent to other jurisdictions. There also were some pugs in the mix, Jones said.
