TOWN OF LEYDEN, New York (WWNY) - After the owner of a Lewis County animal sanctuary died, his niece was left to care for 135 dogs.

Linda Papszycki’s life was upended 15 months ago when she was suddenly burdened with her uncle’s town of Leyden animal sanctuary, which housed 135 dogs across seven buildings found in what she calls a deplorable state.

“The whole property was like a junkyard. It was like a hoarding situation. Dogs. Dogs were not in the best health conditions. It was horrible, and then when I got into the insides of the buildings, it was even worse what they were living in,” said Papszycki, owner of Spirit Animal Sanctuary.

She says she had two options: sell the land and be forced to euthanize the aggressive dogs that wouldn’t be taken, or begin the long and arduous process

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