PONTOTOC COUNTY, OK -- An elderly Pontotoc county woman was forced to turn over more than 100 dogs to the Sheriff's Department. Investigators say it's a case of good intentions that quickly grew out of control. Daniel Armbruster has more.

The animals are still on the property, but under the care of the Pontotoc County Sheriff's Department. Ownership was transferred because their elderly owner can no longer afford to take care of them.

Neighbors complain those animals run loose and some have even been run over.

It started out as 8. Now there are approximately 120 dogs on this rural Pontotoc County property.

In rural Pontotoc County, it is not illegal to have 120 dogs, as long as you take care of them.

Sheriff John Christian says that was the case until the owner of these dogs had to go into a nursing home. The family cannot afford to feed them, so the sheriff's department has temporary custody of the dogs.

"A couple of volunteers have agreed to take care of the dogs. I believe PETCO in Oklahoma City and then Southern Proteins here in Ada have both donated dog food to take care of feeding of the animals," Pontotoc County Sheriff John Christian says.

For now they remain on this property. The Humane Society of the United States has asked that we do not reveal the exact location for the safety of the animals.

Oklahoma State Director Cynthia Armstrong says most of the animals just need some good veterinary work.

"They have mats, some external parasites such as ticks, and a few issues, but for the most part they seem pretty hearty and in pretty good shape."

Armstrong, based out of Oklahoma City, says the State Humane Society was contacted by the sheriff's department to capture the dogs.

"The animals run up on the highway. They're subject to injury, and of course disease without adequate veterinary care. So it's a situation that definitely needs some attention now."

Sheriff Christian says neighbors began to complain about the dogs.

"Several of the dogs may have been hit by vehicles on the roadway over the last year or so because they would actually stop traffic at times. There were so many dogs."

Once captured Armstrong says they will check the medical needs of each job and try to find them a new home.

"We are going to apprehend the dogs and transport them to shelters around the United States, where they will have the opportunity to be spayed and neutered, vaccinated, and offered for adoption to individual homes.”
Armstrong says they will begin to capture the dogs later this week.