Click the play button on the video window to the right to see the storyMESA, AZ -- A kennel of several sick and dead dogs was found abandoned Thursday morning outside the
Maricopa County Animal Care and Control East Valley office.
Employees found the three dogs while walking into work.
Two were "skin and bones," but alive, according to employees.
The skull of a third dog was also found.
Officials believe the other dogs may have tried to eat it to survive.
A statement from Animal Care and Control, or MCACC, said one of the dogs had to be put down.
The surviving dog was a 7-pound Chihuahua. A spokeswoman said the dog is recovering with the
Arizona Chihuahua Rescue.
Sandra Muntz is fostering the dog, named Adorable.
"We did a lot of lab work on her and she had gotten to the point where her body was using her muscles. Her body was eating the muscles just to keep her alive. She was very, very close to death," said Muntz.
It's not known how long the dogs were in the kennel or where they came from.
There were no witnesses and there aren't camera outside the facility.
"This was mean. This was down right mean," said Muntz.
The Arizona Chihuahua rescue group is paying for Adorable's care.
Donations can be made on its website.
MCACC said it has also seen several other animals left in front of the shetler recently, including a cat abandoned in Phoenix last week.
Officials said it is a criminal offense to abandon an animal.
If you can no longer care for a pet, MCACC will take the animals during normal business hours.
