The original owner was hospitalized and never came back to claim them, so the animal center was left with a dilemma.

"It was a carefully curated decision," he said, according to the report. "A financial artifice for taxes."

Ruby and her new owner were still getting to know each other when she had an opportunity to prove she was worth her weight in gold.

The dog is being credited with the toddler's rescue, and now he growls whenever he sees candles or people lighting cigarettes.

Patch the dog and his visually impaired owner were out for a walk one morning, but only one of them made it back home.

The mother had cared for the neighbor's dogs in the past, but this time when she went to feed them things were different.

The sweet old dog was just being her friendly, hopeful self when she wandered over and fell into the open manhole.

The owner said the thief knew the dog belonged to them and even asked them about it before showing up and taking it.

By the time rescuers got there, one dog had died, unable to get away from its cage mates crammed into a small cage.

The sheriff's office said the deputies risked their lives and put a warning at the beginning of the video they shared on Facebook.