Lucama, N.C. — A local animal rescue group said the medical bills are growing for a group of dogs seized from an alleged Wilson County puppy mill.

Saving Grace, 13400 Old Creedmoor Road in Wake Forest, took in 25 of the hundreds of dogs seized from the home of 38-year-old Ranna Michelle Scott, of Lucama. She is charged with 13 felony counts of animal cruelty.

Authorities said the dogs were living in deplorable conditions at Scott’s home. After an investigation began in late August, Scott tried to hide the dogs by dispersing them across the state, according to the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office.

Crews set up a staging area staffed by veterinarians at the Wilson County Fairgrounds to treat the dogs as they came in by the dozens. Some were in good health, while others needed immediate medical attention, Wilson said. At least five died.

The SPCA of Wake County and Saving Grace stepped in to care for some of the dogs.

“They’ve all come from some sad, pitiful background,” said Molly Goldston, director of Saving Grace. “They’re pretty much just happy to be here.”

Goldston brought some of the dogs to her 10-acre farm in Wake Forest.

“Everybody has been really happy to be playing for most of the day and not be in a small pen and dirty,” Goldston said about the seized dogs on Saturday.

Goldston said, so far, the seized dogs’ medical bills have exceeded $5,000.

“The fleas, the parasites and the dental care – that’s all things that would have been easy to prevent had they had basic care,” she said.

The group relies on donations, but those have dropped off with the economy.

The dogs have all been spayed or neutered. They will be put for adoption once they have been treated for their medical issues.

Saving Grace charges between $200 and $400 as an adoption fee. Goldston said the fee helps cover some of the group’s expenses.

For information about adopting the seized dogs, call Saving Grace at 919-518-1180 or the SPCA at 919-772-2326.

Anyone who knows where more animals are or has any information about Scott's breeding operations should call the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office Animal Enforcement Division at 252-265-5971.