Orange County Animal Services will begin the adoption process for dogs seized in a 2019 animal cruelty case.

Because of overwhelming interest in the dogs, Animal Services has developed a special adoption process. Dogs will be available in batches ranging from six to 12. Interested adopters will submit applications during the viewing period. Once the viewing period has closed, an adopter will be randomly drawn.

Director of Orange County Animal Services Bob Marotto said the dogs could not be made available sooner because of judicial restrictions. While the criminal proceedings of the breeders continues, the proceedings involving the county department are complete.

“There was a civil process that resulted in the animals becoming the ‘property’ of Orange County Animal Services involving both of the defendants,” said Marotto. “That has come to a complete closure.”

Housing all the dogs put a strain on the county department. The amount grew from the 57 initially seized dogs to more than 70 after some had litters of puppies. Animal Services launched A GoFundMe to raise money for the animals’ care, which far surpassed its goal of $10,000. But Moratto said the community has rallied around the cause in more ways than just financially.

“People have donated food, money, they have provided moral support,” he said. “We’ve had pro bono services and discounted services for boarding and care.”

The first batch of available dogs can be seen online beginning at 5 p.m. on January 25 and in-person at the shelter beginning Monday, January 27, at noon. Applications can be submitted online, the department’s the preferred method, or at the shelter until 8 a.m. Thursday, January 30.

Interested individuals may apply for more than one dog each week. However, only one application per household per dog will be accepted. In addition, Orange County Animal Services will impose a limit of one dog per family. Once a family adopts a dog during this process, applications for other dogs will not be considered.

Interested individuals are urged to review all of the information provided on that page which includes information about how people are notified if they are selected to adopt an animal, and the timetable on which the process of adoption must occur.

Marotto said his department is thrilled to begin finding permanent homes for the animals. But he reminded potential adopters to keep in mind the potential medical conditions common for bulldog breeds, which were largely the breeds taken in.

“They tend to have different kinds of medical conditions relating to their eyes, skin, palettes and breathing,” said Marotto. “It is really critical people are able to and interested in providing them not only with the love they need, but the veterinary care.”

All dogs will be spayed or neutered, examined by veterinary health care staff, and they will have received basic vaccinations.  Specific medical conditions of concern to adopters will be identified in the information provided online about the individual animals in the weekly batch being made available for adoption.

Animal Services expects this process will continue weekly with a new batch available each Saturday at 5 p.m. until all of the dogs have been rehomed. More details about this special adoption process are available at the department’s website.

Photo via Orange County Animal Services.