The search is on to find new homes for 70 dogs that were seized from a farm near Riceton last week after an ongoing animal cruelty investigation.

There were originally 150 animals on the farm when Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan began investigating, but the owner had managed to rehome some of them.

Several inspections were conducted at the property, and APSS says the owner did not improve the conditions.

APSS says a vet found deficiencies with the dogs’ food, water, shelter, body condition, and general care after the seizure last week.

Charges are now pending against the owner under the Animal Protection Act.

CTV News visited the property last week prior to the seizure. You can view some of the video from that visit here.

APSS says this is one of the largest dog seizures in the province’s history, and it was complicated by the fact that many of the dogs are not well socialized, and were difficult to capture.

The dogs are currently with the Saskatoon SPCA, the Prince Albert SPCA, and the Regina Humane Society.

“We are happy that our friends at the Saskatoon SPCA, Prince Albert SPCA and Regina Humane Society were able to help us care for this very large number of dogs” Kaley Pugh of APSS said in a written release, “but we’re going to need help placing them more permanently so that they can be trained and get adopted into loving homes.”

Any groups or individuals who would like to help rehabilitate and socialize the dogs are asked to contact one of the shelters listed above, or the APSS.

APSS was not able to remove all of the dogs from the farm, and will continue to monitor the animals that are still on the property, including over a dozen horses.