OAKLAND, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- Nearly a dozen German Shepherds have been found abandoned around North Jersey within the past week, officials say.
The dogs were found in Alpine, Woodland Park, Wayne and other neighborhoods, Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge wrote in a post on its Facebook page on Friday.
"None of the dogs have collars, tags or microchips, and all are very frightened, suspected to be the victims of backyard breeding," the shelter said. "We are currently seeking experienced shepherd adopters, as the shelter has seen an increased influx of shepherds in recent weeks and months."
The shelter's executive director, Megan Brinster, told 1010 WINS officials believe there may be other German Shepherds scared and on the loose in the Garden State as well.
One of the German Shepherds, dubbed Shelby, was rescued in Closter, New Jersey this past week.
Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge
"By Friday, it went from, 'Can we figure out how to work with Shelby?' to, 'Okay, it looks like there's 10 dogs altogether that have been left throughout the state," she said. "And two were actually left by the Palisades Highway, which is obviously incredibly dangerous, and the other ones were left in various towns and areas."
The dogs were found nervous and underweight, as though they had lived their whole lives in cages, she noted.
Authorities have asked anyone with information about the abandoned dogs to contact the Bergen County SPCA Hotline at 201-573-8900.
