GAITHERSBURG, Md. - On Thursday, the Humane Society of the United States brought 57 dogs rescued from a puppy mill in Pennsylvania to Gaithersburg.

Tuesday's raid by the Humane Society and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (web | news) on the Almost Heaven Kennels in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania netted 250 dogs.

"These are not considered pets to these puppy mill owners. They are factory production machines," said Scotlund Haisley of the Humane Society.

The department's Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement investigated the Almost Heaven kennels due to the owner's failure to appeal his recent license delisting.

When rescuers entered the kennel they found sick, filthy animals. They lived outside in dirty wire cages, and many were underfed and had various infections.

"They'll come back to our shelter and they'll go through probably baths at this point -- and medical and behavioral evaluations," said Ronnie Marjerison, a rescue volunteer.

Almost Heaven has been raided before. In 2008, officials carried out what is believed to be the biggest animal raid in Pennsylvania history: 700 animals were rescued. At that point, the kennel was also housing exotic animals like spider monkeys and miniature ponies, along with cats, guinea pigs and birds.

The dogs rescued on Tuesday will be checked by veterinarians, treated and then sent out to Humane Society offices around the region, where they will be made available for adoption. 

Among those rescued is Liberty Bell, a Portuguese Water Dog -- the same breed as the first family's dog Bo. The Humane Society is now making a public plea for the Obamas to adopt their second dog.

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