Regional Animal Services of King County and the Seattle Animal Shelter have teamed up to try and find homes for a number of Chihuahuas seized from an animal hoarder in Issaquah last fall.

The dogs have been under the county’s care since they were saved from their previous owner, and need permanent homes.

“We’re happy that these dogs have a second chance at a good life,” said animal services operations manager Glynis Frederiksen. “Thanks to our hard-working staff and wonderful foster families, we’ve been able to nurse them back to health. The previous owner has agreed to release them so that we can find them new forever homes.”

While Regional Animal Services and the Seattle Animal Shelter are happy to find homes for the dogs, Frederiksen cautioned that the dogs will need a lot of tender loving care and training.

“They were kept in small, filthy kennels and had little contact with people or other dogs, and had little or no veterinary care during that time,” she said. “We are especially looking for pet owners who are ready to take on the responsibility of caring for a special-needs dog.”

Animal hoarders typically keep an excessive number of domestic pets — such as dogs or cats — at their home without the ability to properly feed, house or provide adequate care for the pets. Animal hoarding, which can cause health problems for both the pets and people, is considered a form of animal cruelty.

According to Federal Way officials, no such instances of animal hoarding have been reported or discovered in city limits, at least since 2010, when the city broke from King County and formed its own Animal Services Department.

Federal Way contracts with the Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society, a relationship that was recently reviewed during a city council meeting.

Adopt a Chihuahua

People interested in taking home one of the Chihuahuas can visit the King County Pet Adoption Center, 21615 64th Ave. S. in Kent, or the Seattle Animal Shelter, located at 2061 15th Ave. W. To learn more, visit kingcounty.gov/pets or www.seattleanimalshelter.org. Regional Animal Services of King County can be reached at (206) 296-7387 and the Seattle Animal Shelter can be reached at (206) 386-7387.