A few animal lovers turned their Mother's Day weekend into a dog rescue and recovery mission. 

6News talked to neighbors Sunday afternoon in Stump Creek. 

We heard several residents who live on Sixth Street rescued a dozen dogs since Friday, and the number of dogs rescued jumped from 13 to 16 in the time we were there.

"If it's a puppy mill, there's probably a lot more than they just dumped off. So, I'm really not surprised that we found more, I was kind of hoping we wouldn't find more," neighbor Dave Brocious said.

One-by-one, the pups just kept coming.

One Miniature Pinscher, two Shih tzus and 13 Pomeranians lasted a few days in the woods before they caught the attention of a few pet-friendly neighbors.

"They were very dehydrated they just... bad condition, real bad condition," Brocious said.

"They were all matted and caked with fecal matter and urine. Their toenails were grown in circles almost back into their pads, and they were definitely very hungry too," Animal Hospital of Punxsutawney Veterinarian Dr. Emily Rapp said.

Neighbors brought the dogs to the Animal Hospital of Punxsutawney. 

Dr. Rapp and her workers donated their time to bring the abandoned dogs back to health. 

"Everybody is missing teeth. The ones that do have teeth remaining, cause there are ones that only have two or three teeth remaining... are pretty much rotting right out of their head," Rapp said.

Rapp said judging by the condition of their legs and paws, it appears the dogs were kept in cages the majority of their lives. 

"And the fact that none of them seem to be housebroken or have any idea to go outside to go to the bathroom; they will just go to the bathroom anywhere," Rapp explained.

With lack of training, Rapp said that will make it difficult to find homes.

She and the neighbors who took part in the rescue agree -- they want the owner prosecuted.

"[It] makes me very upset. I mean they're nice little animals. I don't know, it just makes me heartbroken," Brocious said.

"We'll keep them as long as we need to keep them, and keep them safe and try to get them healthy and get them into a good place," Rapp said.

The hospital gave all of the dogs dewormer medicine while we were there.

If you're interested in adopting one of the dogs, you can contact Rembier Farms at therescueaddress@hotmail.com.

The hospital is also accepting all monetary donations to care for the dogs. If interested, you can send a donation to Animal Hospital of Punxsutawney.