Courtesy of: KHAS-TV, NE

Location: Grand Island, Nebraska

By Jeniffer Berry, KHAS-TV - Animal Control workers are calling it one of the most disturbing cases of animal cruelty they have ever seen. Nearly two dozen dogs were found dumped in a ditch and scattered around a field near Grand Island. Most were dead with a few clinging to life.

The dogs were found Thursday afternoon.

There were 23 in all including pugs, labradoodles, Chihuahuas and Yorkies.

When crews got to the scene a few of the dogs were still alive. But in the end none survived.

Down a quiet dirt road just outside Grand Island Animal Control is picking up the pieces.

"Something like this, it is terrible, hopefully we can find the person who did this and take care of it," Michael Valdez.

Animal control was called there Thursday after someone reported seeing dozens of dogs in a cornfield. They expected them to be alive.

"He called me 10 minutes later and told me to bring cadaver bags, so right there my stomach just dropped," said Jane Keuhn, Central Nebraska Humane Society.

"They were dead, there were 23 of them. We did send one to the hospital but it did not make it," Valdez said.

Animal Control and Humane Society officials said it is one of the worst cases of animal cruelty they have ever seen.

"Finding three alive makes me wonder how many more were alive and had to die like this," said Keuhn.

"Yeah, I was upset, very frustrated, angry," Valdez said.

Investigators found a syringe, some rubber gloves and newspaper at the scene. But they do not know if the items are connected.

They are also trying to determine how the dogs died and when they were dumped.

"We are not sure how long they were sitting out there before the person who found them saw them," said Valdez.

This is the second case of animal cruelty in two days.

Thursday, 70 dogs were rescued from poor conditions at a Frontier County home.

"Right now I am hoping it is just coincidence. We do not want to see a trend like this," said Keuhn.

"We always tell people if they cannot take care of their animals, bring them to us," said Valdez.

Officials said neglect and cruelty like this will not be tolerated. It is what they work day and night to try to prevent.

"I have worked here for 3 years not and I have never worked a case like this and I hope I never have to work a case like this again," said Keuhn.

Animal Control workers said some of the dogs were found in better shape than others. Many were underfed. One was pregnant. That dog died on the way to the vet. Officials said she would have given birth in just a couple weeks. The puppies could not be saved.

Reference: KHAS-TV