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Some of the 38 small dogs left at an animal shelter in Richmond, B.C., overnight on Aug. 30, 2013.

Thirty-eight dogs that were abandoned outside a B.C. animal shelter are doing well and drawing plenty of interest when it comes to adoption.

The dogs – Yorkies, terriers and Chihuahuas – were found outside the Richmond Animal Protection Society when staff arrived at work Friday. They had been left inside rusty cages and kennels.

Jessica Franco, who works at the facility, on Sunday said the dogs are doing fine and that they will be fixed later this week. Adoption efforts will then be made, but Ms. Franco said that shouldn't be too difficult since there's been "a lot of interest."

The society has been operated by the City of Richmond since 2007, and it is a no-kill shelter, which means animals aren't euthanized, even if a home can't be found.

Ted Townsend, a city spokesman, said Friday he had never heard of so many dogs being dropped off at once in Richmond. "You might get a litter of puppies come in at one time, but certainly, to get 38 dogs like this is uncommon," he said.

It's unclear whether the dogs came from a puppy mill, or if they're even from the Richmond area.

Mr. Townsend said the RCMP has opened a file on the matter and will try to determine who owned the dogs.

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