KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- The sad faces of sick dogs hardly tell where they've come from. More than two dozen dogs are under veterinary care at the Roane County Animal Shelter after being seized from alleged puppy mill in Midtown.

"This is one of the worst due to the confinement of the animals," says Roane County Animal Shelter Director John Griffin. He says the dogs are suffering from a variety of ailments. "Respiratory distress they have, flea infestation, the mange, the cherry eyes," says Griffin. The high ammonia levels have even caused lung damage.

Animal control officers picked up 28 pups from the home of 72-year-old Marjorie Dodd. Griffin says the dogs were living in feces, with dirty food and water, while their owner raised them for sale.

"She also confessed to breeding the puppies for the dogs to sell," says Griffin. Dodd now faces multiple animal cruelty charges. Griffin says Dodd was compassionate toward animals, but she was living beyond her means.

Griffin says the 28 animals already seized are only a fraction of those being mistreated. "We don't have a lot of room to take all 105 or 107 animals, so we decided to take the very worst animals," says Griffin.

Friday people showed up at the shelter to lend a hand or some cash to help with the dogs care.

"No animal should have to go through what those dogs have gone through," says Danielle Anders. She and her daughter volunteer regularly on Tuesday, but came in to help after hearing about the case.

Several others have also made donations, including one of $500 Friday from an anonymous donor. "It would definitely be several thousands of dollars worth of vet bills for these animals," says Griffin. "That's just for the animals we have now. Not for the animals that are still there."

Griffin says they hope to go back for more dogs, if room and resources allow. "It breaks my heart. It really just breaks my heart. There's no excuse for it," says Anders.

For now the seized dogs are considered evidence. Once the case is settled, they'll be available for adoption. If you'd like to help, you can contact the Roane County Animal Shelter at (865)354-7387.