Sixty-five dogs have a new chance at life at a makeshift shelter in Lebanon, and those that brought them there said it;s amazing they survived at all.

They
were found cowering in drums, trembling behind trees and struggling
with heavy chains that kept them away from food and fresh water.

"It's despicable it's just unbelievable that these dogs are even alive," said Scotlund Haisley, president of Animal Rescue Corps, the group that took the dogs in.

65 dogs in all were found by Ashland City firefighters, who responded to a brush fire near a home on Buckeye Road Thursday
evening.

They were able to put the fire out just before the flames reached
the chained dogs that would not have been able to run away.

"The fire which could have easily taken their lives actually ended up saving their lives," said Michael Cunningham, public information officer for A.R.C.

Haisley said that's because when the smoke
cleared, investigators also uncovered a treadmill, a large pen and a
device used to strengthen dogs jaws, all items that are commonly used in
dog fighting, which is felony in Tennessee and a federal offense.

Haisley who's led rescue efforts across the country says the dogs were found in some of the worst conditions he'd ever seen.

"To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest, suspected dog fighting rescue case in the state of Tennessee's history," Haisley said.

As volunteers worked to remove the dogs, the Cheatham County Sheriff and Animal Control departments searched the property and stood by as a federal agent from the U.S. Department of Agriculture questioned an unidentified man who let them into the home.

John
Treadway is an animal lover that lives less than a mile away and said
he had no idea the animals were being kept in those conditions, but if
he had, he would have spoken out

"I'd like to see them go straight to jail," Treadway said.  "No breaks, put a heavy heavy fine on them, put them in jail."

Cunningham said the next step was to rehabilitate the dogs and work with local partners to see they'll be able to be adopted.

As of  Saturday night, no charges had been filed against the homeowner.65 Dogs Rescued from Suspected Fighting Ring - Eric Alvarez