Chicago Rescue Caring For 23 French Bulldog Puppies Found In Van

CHICAGO, IL — Nearly two dozen French bulldog puppies are being cared for thanks to a rescue center in Chicago and the Humane Society of the United States after surviving deadly conditions inside a moving van last month in Texarkana, Texas. According to the Humane Society of the United States, 28 puppies were flown in from Ukraine to Chicago, headed for Texas, before being put in the back of a moving truck in Texarkana. That's where authorities found the dogs — including one that had died in the ordeal — during a traffic violation stop.

According to the Humane Society, it was 121 degrees inside the back of the moving van, where the puppies were found without access to food and water, many suffering from heat-related illnesses.

Even with vet care, at least four more puppies died while awaiting a civil hearing against the transporters in Texas, which determined the puppies were treated cruelly.

The Humane Society was asked to help find placement for the dogs, and connected local authorities to their partner, the Chicago French Bulldog Rescue. On Wednesday, the bulldog rescue transported the surviving puppies via private plane with a veterinarian on board to Illinois, where they'll continue receiving rehabilitative care and eventually become available for adoption (see video below).

The Chicago French Bulldog Rescue created a fundraising campaign page through publicgood.com in an effort to help rehabilitate the remaining 23 Frenchies they say were rescued from horrific conditions in the sweltering van. Donations are needed to help care for and rehabilitate the puppies at different vets the rescue works with, as CFBR said they all need intensive rehabilitative treatment. So far over $17,000 of a $100,000 goal has been raised.

The Humane Society of the United States provided financial assistance to pay for the care of the puppies until they could be moved to the care of CFBR.

If you live in Chicago, the suburbs or in northwest Indiana and have thought about fostering a dog, CFBR said they're always looking for fosters. The puppies won't be available sent to foster homes or become available for adoption or be sent to foster homes until they're healthy enough, the rescue said.

More foster and adoption questions are answered on the Chicago French Bulldog Rescue Facebook page.

To donate, visit the Texarkana Twenty Three page on publicgood.com.

(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)