About 50 dogs were rescued from a hoarding situation in York County, South Carolina, this month. Most are small mixed breeds. According to York County Animal Services, they came in with skin, eye and ear problems and other health issues, and many had never learned to be around people. Every one of them now needs a vet exam, treatment and rehabilitation.

The York County Sheriff’s Office is investigating, but as of October 15 no charges had been announced. Neglect at this scale deserves a serious response. The Sheriff’s Office and the 16th Circuit Solicitor’s Office should pursue every animal cruelty charge the evidence supports. They should also ask the court to bar whoever is responsible from owning animals again.

This case also exposes a bigger problem. The county shelter has 170 kennels, but only 72 are built for dogs. This one rescue filled nearly a third of the shelter’s capacity, and staff had to put normal operations on hold to care for the new arrivals. It is not the first time either. “Our staff, sadly, is very familiar with taking in large-scale neglect and cruelty cases,” said Bobbie Comer, director of York County Animal Services.

York County Council already paid a consultant last year to plan a larger facility. Now the Council needs to fund it and build it, so the next large rescue does not push the shelter past its limits.

Local volunteers and donors have already shown up for these dogs. County leaders should do the same.

Sign the petition to demand justice for these dogs and a shelter big enough for the next case.