Dear Cid Marcos,

Imagine coming upon this scene: a yard filled with rusted cars, old tires, broken furniture, and piles of trash. And then—you see them.

A thin dog peers out from behind a metal barrel. Another barks from beneath a battered truck. Dozens more appear scattered among the garbage—puppies and adults—some limping, standing in their own waste, or drinking from dirty puddles. Many are severely underweight and infested with fleas. All of them are unable to leave this miserable place.

What would you do if you saw them?

Witnesses reported seeing these dogs left outside all day and night, chained to pieces of junk. A few huddled in barrels or dilapidated doghouses, but most had only debris for shelter. Reportedly, sick and injured dogs were left to languish and multiple dogs froze to death when winter temperatures plummeted.

Kind locals begged authorities to help—for years. But officials refused, stating that the hoarder wasn’t breaking any laws.

Then, the locals called us. I’m part of PETA’s Emergency Response Team, a dedicated group of first responders on call 24/7 to help abused and neglected animals. We investigate cruelty cases, help coordinate veterinary care for sick and injured animals, and work relentlessly to persuade authorities to act on behalf of animals in dire circumstances—like these dogs.

Our team jumped into action to help these dogs, including rallying supporters nationwide to speak up so authorities had no choice but to listen. Within a month—and just as a catastrophic snowstorm hit the region—authorities intervened.

On a blistering cold winter day, 29 dogs were rescued from the property. Our team helped ensure they were brought to a local shelter, where they received veterinary care for frostbite, parasites, and malnourishment and began their journey to new, loving homes.

Thank you for standing up for animals everywhere who need us!

Kind regards,

Katie Terwilliger
Cruelty Caseworker II