There's an urgent situation in San Antonio tonight and dozes of dogs are at risk. Earlier this week animal control officers seized 82 dogs from a local rescue and brought them to the municipal shelter. 

The director of San Antonio Animal Care Services (ACS), Heber Lefgren, sent out this emergency email to rescues late Thursday afternoon pleading for help:

"As many of you may already know, ACS seized 82 dogs from a local rescue yesterday. The owner, while having the best of intentions, was not providing humane living conditions for these dogs and therefore, ACS determined a need to step in and help these dogs. The good news is that the owner was willing to acknowledge the situation enough to owner surrender the dogs so that we can help find better placement for these dogs. 

We are actively seeking placement for these dogs at this time and could use your help. For your information, the majority of the dogs are already sterilized and can leave our shelter immediately. While staff did a great job preparing for this event and minimizing negative impacts on our operations, your help will allow us to minimize the need to euthanize for space. If you have the ability to rescue a pet, I ask that you give our foster/rescue team a call. Please keep in mind that you do not have to just rescue one of the 82 dogs in order to help ACS. Rescuing any dog at the ACS facility will allow ACS to create the space necessary to minimize/prevent euthanasia." 

Dogs in the picture gallery below were seized and are at risk of being euthanized:

About half of the dogs have been saved so far, but more than 40 remain at ACS and are very "urgent."  The shelter euthanizes thousands of dogs each year and having 82 come in on one day puts all the dogs at risk because there's not enough space to house them all.

The good news, Lefgren says, is most of the dogs are friendly, good with other dogs and are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.  So that's a bonus to anyone considering rescuing, fostering or adopting a dog.  The shelter does work with in and out of state rescues.  ACS also has a foster and adoption program for people who live in the San Antonio area and want to help. 

This is a link to a Facebook album with all the dog's pictures who need to be out of the place very soon or could be put to sleep. 

If you're interested in helping, email: ACSFoster-rescue@sanantonio.gov or ACSadoptions@anantonio.gov  

SAPA Urgents & Adoptables also helps place dogs for ACS and works with the community. Their email is: placement@SanAntonioPetsAlive.Org