First group of small-breed dogs rescued after seizure up for adoption in Winnipeg

A first batch of small-breed dogsrescued by the province during a seizure earlier this monthare now up for adoption at the Winnipeg Humane Society.

"We have three dogs on the adoption floor right now, and I was leaving work, one might possibly be getting adopted," said Carly Peters, director of communications for theWinnipeg Humane Society.

Thedogs were removed by Manitoba's veterinarian and animal welfare office while searching a home north of Winnipeg on Aug. 1. Many of the 137 dogs seized were in distress and unsanitary living conditions and needed medical attention, a spokesperson for the province told CBC News previously.

After spending just over two weeks at the Winnipeg Humane Society's care, the animal shelter is opening up adoptions for dogs who are "healthy and old enough" to find a new home, the organization said in a news release Monday.

Peters said the mixed-breed dogstwo males and a femalehave all different ages ranging around the one-year mark. All of them have been cleared medically and are also spayed or neutered, landing into the adoption system "fairly quickly."

Many of the small-breed dogs who are not up for adoption yet will be spayed or neutered. Some of them will also be transferred to partner rescues, as the Winnipeg Humane Society clinic deals with an overwhelming number of animals in its care, which has pushed it to freeze its animal intake.

"There's over 200 animals. We have 250 animals in foster, yet we were at critical capacity before this event happened," Peters said. "We're still in that space."

"It is nice to get a few out on the floor, but there are a lot more animals to come for sure," she said.

The Humane Society couldn't confirm if the seized dogs, now up for adoption, were rescued from illegal backyard breeders or puppy mills. However, the organization called on the province to crack down on these practices.

The province told CBC News in an email Monday its investigation in this case is still active and it has no updates to provide at this time.

Adoptions will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis, and those interested are invited to meet the future pets at the Humane Society's centre at 45 Hurst Way.