Thirty puppies recently rescued from a suspected illegal puppy breeding operation braved cold temperatures Friday at Liberty Animal Control's makeshift shelter in Fresno.
"They're shivering and it just makes me sad,” said Andi Briscow, who donated to the shelter.
Briscow and many others donated dropped off blankets and heaters, hoping to help keep the unexpected, extra animals warm this weekend.
"We were not prepared for the dogs that came in, over 30 dogs. What we are doing is completely surrounding them with the tarp. In one of the kennels we have, we are putting up a heater that's plugged in the entire night,” said Daniel Bailey, Senior Animal Control Officer at Liberty.
Over at the Poverello House in downtown Fresno, workers unloaded boxes full of blankets. They’ll be passed out to the homeless on Friday afternoon.
"it's important to stay as warm as you can, which is really, really hard to do out in the streets," said Doreen Eley, Deputy Director of the Poverello House.
The City of Fresno plans to open up its warming center at the Frank H. Ball center, to assist those caught out in the elements. But Mayor Ashley Swearengin is hoping everyone will pitch in.
"I want to encourage area churches and anyone else who may have a capacity to take folks in tonight and tomorrow night, if they've got the ability to do it, it certainly would be a good thing for community,” said Swearengin.
Liberty Animal Control is accepting donations of detergent, heaters, and blankets to keep the animals comfortable. The shelter can be reached at 559-600-7387.
