Seventeen dogs were dumped in the desert out in Hudspeth County with no food, water or proper care.

But an even closer look revealed something much more disturbing than just neglect.

"I've never seen anything like this. This is definitely our biggest rescue to date," said D. Sanders, with Doggie Do Overs.

Sanders says it all started after people spotted squatters on their land in Hudspeth County. The couple threatened to call the cops if the drifters didn't leave. The next day, instead of people, the couple found dogs -- and not just a few.

"They originally told me there were only five, me and my kids went out there to rescue them and it turned out there were 17," said Sanders.

Sanders is with Doggie Do Overs, the only animal rescue in Hudspeth County. After getting the call, she rushed over. But the amount of neglected dogs wasn't the only major shock.

"They noticed that there were rubber bands tied around their testicles. I guess that was their way of neutering their boys, but that's not a sufficient or humane way of neutering," said Loretta Hyde, kennel manager at Animal Rescue League.

Hyde says the dogs now have infections where those rubber bands were tied.

"We are supposed to be the smarter species yet there's a bunch of people out there that are beating up on the little ones that can't take care of themselves. It makes me really mad," said Sanders.

"I mean, you have alternatives. Try that first before you make that terrible decision just to leave them on their own, out in the boonies," said Hyde.

The dogs are split up. Nine are at Animal Rescue League and the other eight are at Doggie Do Overs. The next step is finding them all permanent homes.

"As much trauma as these little guys have been through, they're still very trusting, they want to be loved, I mean, they're smiling at us," said Hyde.

The dogs got the proper medical care and all nine males will be neutered.