More than a dozen dogs were rescued during an animal cruelty investigation in Alabama.

One dog was found dead and 15 were rescued after the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report concerning the welfare of animals at a home in Bay Minette on Sept. 1.

Officers found the dead dog inside a chain link kennel, according to a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office. The 15 other dogs were found on the property, with a majority of them confined in two kennels. A cat was also found on the property.

Many of the dogs in the kennels were severely malnourished, officials said.

A dog rescued from a home in Bay Minette, Ala., on Sept. 1, 2026.rosalieandfriends/Facebook
The dogs did not have access to food and clean water.

Baldwin County Animal Control assisted with the removal, transport and care for the surviving animals.

Jessica Phillips was arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty.

The investigation is ongoing.

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Baldwin County Animal Shelter wrote in a Sept. 1 Facebook post that the rescued animals are not adoptable as they are receiving medical treatments and evaluations.

“If and when they become available to the public, they will be posted in our available for adoption album,” the shelter said.

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A few days later, the nonprofit animal rescue Rosalie and Friends shared that they are assisting the shelter with caring for the abused animals.

“Fifteen lives. Left in the heat with no water. Fifteen lives not being properly fed. Fifteen lives who, to someone, simply did not matter. We knew we had to help. Even if we could only get a few out. Yesterday, we pulled four. Friday, we will be getting the fifth,” the rescue wrote in a Sept. 3 Facebook post.

Baldwin County Animal Shelter in Alabama.google maps
“Two severely emaciated puppies. A Dachshund girl with a long laundry list of health concerns caused by neglect, which we will share more about soon. And two tiny Chihuahuas,” Rosalie and Friends said, adding that the emaciated puppies are in “critical” condition and weigh only 5 lbs.

“They are extremely anemic, loaded with parasites, and so fragile that even feeding them has to be carefully managed. They will be on a strict refeeding regimen because giving too much, too fast, could make an already dangerous situation worse,” the rescue wrote of the puppies.

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The Baldwin County Animal Shelter told Fox 10 that it is working to place the found animals with rescue partners.

The animals’ conditions are improving, the shelter added.