The organization said Thursday the dogs were found in cruelty and neglect situations in Hardeman and Hardin counties.
"These are our second and third hoarding and abandonment case in two days in Tennessee," said ARC President Scotlund Haisley. "We are assisting multiple agencies across the state this week to help with similar cases. All of these animals are innocent victims, so it's a very sad situation, but we're here now and their bad days will soon be behind them."
In Hardeman County, 19 abandoned dogs were rescued from a rundown home in Bolivar, Tennessee, about 70 miles east of Memphis.
The mixed-breed dogs were reportedly found exposed to the elements in a fenced yard that was covered in feces, plywood with rusty nails, cinderblocks and other hazardous trash.
The dogs were all very dirty with matted fur, as well as ear and eye infections. One dog has untreated ruptured tendons in both back legs, which has resulted in a deformity and painful arthritis.
All of the dogs were social but unused to human contact and exhibited extreme fear when handled.
ARC said the rescue came about after the property owner called Animal Control and said he was on a trip out of state and might never come back so they should go get the dogs he left behind. He told animal control he only had 10 dogs.
The same day, ARC said they rescued another 40 animals from a hoarding home in Counce, Tennessee, about 100 miles east of Memphis.
The property surrendered all the animals to Hardin County who then transferred them to ARC.
The animals weren't just dogs this time, but included mice, rats, and a cat, which was underweight and dehydrated; it was found running loose on the trash-strewn property.
ARC said 4 dogs were found chained outside without adequate food, water, or shelter, while another 18 were inside the house with "extremely poor air quality due to high ammonia levels."
"The floor was plywood subflooring soaked with urine, causing dangerously high ammonia levels irritating to the eyes, nose, and throat," officials said.
The dogs were malnourished, some emaciated, and many exhibited signs of advanced mange, a medical condition caused by skin mites and resulting in hair loss if left untreated.
The dogs were also suffering from dehydration, severe ear infections, dental disease, and overgrown nails.
Four mice and three adult rats, one with a litter of approximately 11 newborn babies, were also found in enclosures inside the house.
ARC transported the animals from both cases to an emergency shelter set up for the operations taking place this week in Lebanon. Each animal will receive a thorough veterinary exam, appropriate vaccinations, and any necessary medical treatment.
ARC will provide daily care until the animals are placed with shelter and rescue organizations that will ultimately adopt them into loving homes.
For people wishing to foster or adopt, ARC will publish its list of shelter and rescue placement partners on its Facebook page once the animals are transferred to these groups.
They're in dire need of food and supplies with so many animals in one emergency shelter. ARC has created an Amazon wishlist.
The items they need include wet and dry dog food, puppy pads, paper towels, bath towels and blankets. Visit their Amazon wishlist here.
If you're near Lebanon, you can also donate items you see in the wishlist in person at the Petco at 1418 West Main Street.
In Nashville, you can drop off items at See Spot Eat at 2605 Winford Avenue.
(News Channel 9 - Jan 8, 2016)
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