15 mini Australian shepherds dumped outside Baker County shelter

Florida Urgent Rescue, Jacksonville animal hospital now caring for dogs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – More than a dozen dogs were found Sunday evening, dumped outside a Baker County shelter. 

After 15 miniature Australian shepherds were left in cages on the side of the road in Macclenny, Florida Urgent Rescue in Jacksonville and the Saint Francis Animal Hospital are now caring for the dogs.

"It was 15 dogs in two different crates -- Seven dogs in a 36-inch crate and eight dogs in a 40-inch crate," FUR Vice President Jeanne Forney told News4Jax on Thursday. "(It was) very tight -- no room for them to lie down."

Forney said the dogs were slightly dehydrated and were in need of immediate attention.

"They had horrible, horrible fleas. Literally thousands of them came off of them after I gave them their Capstars," she said. "And (they had) intestinal worms. We dewormed them as well."

Rescuers said all of the dogs are very sweet-tempered, but very timid.

Though they look like puppies, they're actually miniature adults. According to FUR, that's why they were abandoned, because backyard breeders are known to dump the breeding animals and keep puppies as future breeders.

"The signs are, they’re completely unsocialized and fearful," Forney said. "They do not know how to react to a leash or a lead at all.”

Forney said it’s going to take experienced fosters to get the mini Australian shepherds to become the social and energetic dogs they're known to be. 

Some of the dogs will have to be taken to other rescues, FUR said.

As of Thursday night, FUR had received more than 170 foster and adoption applications for the dogs. The organization is also in need of donations to help get the dogs the care they need.

To foster, visit ww.floridaurgentrescue.com/foster. To donate, click here.

Update: These pups are not puppies... they are miniature adults. That explains why they were dumped, as backyard...

Posted by Florida Urgent Rescue, Inc. - FUR on Monday, April 30, 2018

About the Author:

Corley Peel is a Texas native and Texas Tech graduate who covered big stories in Joplin, Missouri, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Jacksonville, Florida before returning to the Lone Star State. When not reporting, Corley enjoys hot yoga, Tech Football, and finding the best tacos in town.