Dozens of dogs found in deplorable conditions at a facility posing as a rescue in Ensenada, Mexico, are now safe in San Diego County thanks to a coordinated effort between animal shelters.

Mexican authorities said officers raided the pseudo-shelter on July 7 and found close to 300 dogs in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, with many suffering from grave illnesses.

Within days, several San Diego County animal rescue non-profits crossed the U.S.-Mexico border to see the conditions for themselves. What they witnessed, several members of their teams told NBC 7, was "deplorable."

"Being there is really powerful," Soulmate Animal Rescue co-founder Vanessa Barber said. "Just the sounds of the dogs, the smells of the room ... the ammonia from just years of filth burns your eyes when you’r

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