Malnourished pit bull puppies found during drug raid

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WHDH) -- Police found a litter of malnourished puppies after a drug raid in an apartment building in New Bedford.

The seven pit bull puppies were found severely underweight, but are now on the mend at the Forever Paws Animal Shelter in Fall River.

“They were so thin that they had -- you could see their hip bones, their shoulder bones and their little spines,” said Dr. Katherine Pietsch of Anchor Animal Hospital.

Pietsch owns Anchor Animal Hospital and was called in the night authorities discovered the puppies.

“We gave them fluids that evening to hydrate them because they were all dehydrated, offered them some food,” said Pietsch.

Police said they found the puppies during a drug raid at a New Bedford apartment building. The owner of the puppies was charged with drug possession and animal cruelty.

“I don’t know what goes through people’s minds. I don’t know how you cannot feed puppies,” said Erin Pacheco of Forever Paws Animal Shelter.

The puppies have improved drastically since they arrived at Forever Paws.

“They are doing well now. They are getting the nourishment they need. They are playing,” said Pacheco.

The mother of the puppies and another female pit bull were found also. Both of the dogs are healthy, but were taken away from their owner.

“It’s tough, but we do it for the animals. We love them. We want to see the best for them,” said Pacheco.

The manager of the shelter said none of the puppies can be put up for adoption right now because they are part of a criminal case.