37 bags of dead dogs found at canine 'rescue organisation'

Thirty-seven bags of dead dogs were found at the home of a woman who claimed to run "a non-profit organisation" that rescued dogs.

She claimed that she trained them as service animals for disabled children and soldiers, USA Today reported.  

Apart from the 37 bags, which were said to contain four dead puppies along with an unidentified number of decomposed dogs, 39 badly malnourished and barely alive canines were found in Nicole Hulbig's barn near Clarksville, Tennessee.

Mail Online reported that the malnourished dogs were found covered in their own filth and locked in cages that were too small.

There were also deprived of food and water.

The 29-year-old accused has been arrested on 12 counts of animal cruelty.

Owners outraged

Outraged dog owners are demanding she face even tougher penalties. 

"The remains of the dogs in the bags were so decomposed that they could not be sent to a lab for testing," said Sergeant​ Sean Ryan of the Sumner County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Division.

Officers could not even tell how many dogs there were in all, reported The Tennessean. 

NY Daily News reported that Hulbig has been charged by Montgomery County Animal Control with four counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, while Sumner County charged her with eight counts of animal cruelty.

Sources: NY Daily News, Mail Online, USA Today and The Tennessean