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100 German Shorthaired Pointers rescued from Washington County farm

Megan Guza
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Authorities rescued 100 dogs from unclean conditions during a raid in Washington County on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018. (Credit: WPXI-TV)

Humane agents and police rescued more than 100 dogs from two Washington County homes Wednesday, and authorities were investigating to determine who placed the animals there.

The dogs, German shorthaired pointers, had the run of a farm house and another home on property on Hamilton Acres Lane in Hopewell, according to Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone.

Vittone said the doors of the homes had been left opened and someone had “basically turned them into dog houses.”

The dogs were living in poor conditions, and firefighters helped wash down some of them, authorities said. Authorities took the dogs from the houses to the county fairgrounds to be cleaned and then transported them elsewhere.

“The important thing is we got the animals placed where they can get some care and love,” Vittone said.

Vittone said trying to find space for 100 dogs was a challenge, but a number of local rescue organizations stepped up. Some were still being housed at the fairgrounds Thursday afternoon. The dogs are friendly and will put up for adoption once their conditions improve, he said.

He said four veterinarians showed up to donate their time, and volunteers were still at the fairgrounds late into the night.

“With the way the world is right now and all the bad things you hear, to see that many people come together was nice,” Vittone said.

Vittone said an investigation is ongoing, and authorities are still working to determine if charges can be filed and who they can be filed against. He asked anyone with information to contact state police in Washington.

Megan Guza is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Megan at 412-380-8519, mguza@tribweb.com or via Twitter @meganguzaTrib. Staff writer Brian Rittmeyer contributed.