15 Dogs Removed From Home in 'Unsafe, Unsanitary' Conditions

More than a dozen dogs living in "unsafe and unsanitary conditions" were removed from a Palm Springs home Tuesday, an animal rescue group said.

The group, Animal Rescue Corps (ARC), said they assisted Palm Springs police with the operation-- which they've dubbed "Operation Desert Dogs"-- Tuesday morning.

"The dogs, large-breed Labrador and Shepherd mixes were living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions in such proximity that they were injuring each other, a number of them having open bite wounds and scarring," spokesman Gary Smith said.

All 15 rescued dogs were taken to the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, where an "emergency shelter" has been set up by the ARC to assess the health of the dogs and provide any necessary medical care.

They were all crammed into a single family home in the Gateway Estates area of Palm Springs, near the area of Highway 111 and North Indian Canyon Drive, Smith said.

"These dogs were removed from this situation to avoid further serious injuries and continued suffering," ARC President Scotlund Haisley added. "This is a considerable case for a city whose shelter is already at near capacity with homeless animals and Animal Rescue Corps did not hesitate to answer the call for assistance for the sake of our partners and these dogs."

Once the dogs are fully assessed, they'll likely be taken to  to ARC shelter and rescue partners across North America.

Operation Desert Dogs was a collaborative effort between Animal Rescue Corps, Ady Gil World Conservation, PetSmart Charities, the Palm Springs Police Department, Palm Springs Animal Control and the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, according to ARC.

Palm Springs police confirm that that helped out with the operation, though details about the investigation weren't immediately available. 

"Palm Springs Animal Shelter is committed to the well-being of this city's human and animal residents," said Palm Springs Animal Shelter board President, Dr. Doug Kunz. "We're incredibly grateful for Animal Rescue Corps in assisting the City of Palm Springs in bringing this situation to a successful conclusion."