Dogs rescued from truck in Walker up for adoption

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Dogs who were rescued from a filthy pickup truck in Walker are ready to be adopted for the holidays, according to the Kent County Animal Shelter.

On social media Tuesday, the shelter posted the photos of nine dogs who it says would “love to spend their time home this Thanksgiving.” They are just a few of 17 dogs who were rescued from a truck stuffed with animals back in October. After arriving at the Kent County Animal Shelter, one of those dogs gave birth to two puppies, increasing the total to 19 dogs.

“All of these pups are soooo nice, and very ready to leave,” the shelter wrote in the post.

Anyone who wants to meet the dogs are invited to the shelter Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. To see all the dogs up for adoption, visit the Kent County Animal Shelter website.

The dogs were found the evening of Oct. 14 after someone called in a report of “several” dogs in a pickup truck parked outside a restaurant along Alpine Avenue north of I-96. Responding animal control officers, deputies and Walker police officers found the pickup packed with dogs barking nonstop. A responding deputy said there was a significant amount of feces and no water inside the vehicle.

After being taken to the Kent County Animal Shelter, the dogs underwent necessary evaluations and care, the shelter said. They were a mix of breeds and sizes but mostly middle-aged adults.

The dog owner, Carolyn Newsome, pleaded not guilty to failing to provide 10 or more animals with animal control. It’s a felony punishable by up to four years in prison, a $5,000 fine and 500 hours of community service.

With the addition of the 19 dogs, last week the animal shelter said it was caring for 94 dogs. More than 30 were ready for adoption and have been spayed or neutered, heartworm tested and microchipped. Until Dec. 1, the animal shelter is offering a special adoption fee of $50 for all dogs. It includes a Kent County dog license and an extra month of flea/tick and heartworm preventative prescriptions. For more information on pet adoption from KCAS, visit the organization’s website or call 616.632.7300.

— News 8's Duncan MacLean and Michael Oszust contributed to this report.