Animal Rescue Corps Saves 18 Dogs in McKenzie After Owner Suffers Medical Emergency

NASHVILLE (May 11) — Animal Rescue Corps (ARC), a national nonprofit animal protection organization, rescued 18 dogs and puppies in McKenzie, Tenn., after their owner suffered from a medical emergency.

The owner will not be able to return home to care for them.

The seven adult dogs, eight juvenile dogs and three small puppies were surrendered to ARC on Tuesday as part of Operation Plain Sight and have been taken to the ARC Rescue Center outside of Nashville, where they are receiving veterinary evaluations, medical treatment and nutritious meals.

At the time of rescue, the adults averaged about 50 pounds each, the eight juvenile dogs were all about 30 pounds and the three puppies were about 5 pounds each.

All of the dogs suffer from insect bites and will receive treatment for fleas and ticks. Some also have skin wounds, eye and ear infections, dermatitis and fur loss. One has an abscess, and one has a hernia. Flystrike, or myiasis, was also observed.

“This is one of those situations where compassion and urgency have to go hand in hand,” ARC Executive Director Tim Woodward said. “These dogs suddenly lost the only home they knew, and while their caretaker’s situation is tragic, our focus now is making sure each animal gets the care and stability they need so they can be adopted out to their forever homes.”

ARC’s mission is to support rural communities with limited to no animal shelter resources, particularly in cases where large-scale rescues or owner surrenders would overwhelm local capacity.