Dozens of Belgian Malinois dogs are enjoying their first opportunity to touch grass after a shocking rescue.
According to a May 9 release from the Animal Care Centers of New York City (ACC), the organization and ASPCA recently rescued 40 Belgian Malinois dogs from a "filthy, overcrowded" apartment in N.Y.C.
Rescuers found the dogs crammed inside cabinets, closets, and other spaces "with no access to fresh air or sunlight." The ACC believes, per its release, that many of the rescued dogs, who range from fully grown adults to young puppies, had never been outside prior to their rescue.
"These dogs have reportedly lived in total confinement for their entire lives," Tara Mercado, ACC's director of behavior and shelter operations, detailed in a statement. "We found full-grown Malinois hidden in cabinets and crammed behind furniture."
In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, the ASPCA shared that they "urgently mobilized alongside our partners at ACC of NYC to rescue dozens of dogs who were living in extremely unsanitary and overcrowded conditions in an apartment in Queens."
"This case required a strong collaborative effort to bring these dogs to safety, and were grateful theyre now receiving the care they deserve. The ASPCA is providing medical and behavioral treatment for more than a dozen of the dogs and supporting the NYPD with their investigation into this situation," the statement added.
Senior staff members from the ACC and ASPCA apartments removed the dogs from the apartment and brought them to shelter facilities to decompress and receive health checks. All of the dogs will be medically evaluated to determine their next steps.
"They've likely never touched grass, walked on a leash, or met a stranger, Dr. Biana Tamimi, ACC's director of shelter medicine, said of the dogs. "Every new sound, every human interaction, is overwhelming. But we're already seeing glimmers of curiosity and that gives us hope."
According to the ACC's release, many of the Belgian Malinois dogs will require long-term care before they are ready to be adopted because they are fearful and undersocialized from their upbringing. The ACC needs help making room for this new influx of dogs, especially since their shelters are already overcapacity.
"We need help from the community," the ACC shared in a Facebook post about the Belgian Malinois rescue. "We are now at over 200 dogs in our Queens Care Center with an additional 175 in our Manhattan and Staten Island Care Centers. We are currently running a fee-waived adoption special for all dogs over 40 lbs."
The ACC and ASPCA are not handling this case alone; other animal lovers reached out to provide assistance before the ACC shared news of the rescue on social media.
"Several breed-specific rescues have already offered their assistance in finding homes," Jessica Vacarro, ACC's director of placement, said.
In an update obtained by PEOPLE, the ACC shared that all but four of the dogs have found placements with shelters and rescues where they can receive the care and training they need to recover.
The release added that while the rescued dogs adjust to their new lives outside the crowded apartment, authorities are part of an ongoing investigation into how the pets ended up in those dire conditions.