Wake rescue group rehabs dogs saved from Caldwell kennel

At the rescue facility, the dogs are getting treatment they've never experienced before, said Molly Goldston, executive director of Saving Grace.

"They've never had the basics," Goldston said. "Getting a decent haircut, a bath, being out in fresh air, a decent diet."

She said the dogs are doing great, despite the horrendous conditions they were found in a little more than a week ago. Goldston said many of the animals had sores all over their bodies from sitting in their own waste and had been crammed into small, dirty cages.

"Their paws are really sore because they've been kept in a tiny cage for so long. A lot of muscles atrophied," she said.

The dogs need to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, treated for heartworm and given proper dental care before they'll go up for adoption.

"We have a lot of people who want to adopt them, (but) we have to get all their medical care done first," Goldston said. "Some of these guys are going to take a little extra with the house breaking-in and socialization. We want to make sure people know that."

The owner of Mason Creek Kennel, William Allen, was charged with more than 100 counts of animal cruelty and is due in court next month.