SAN ANTONIO -- San Antonio area animal shelters gave a second chance to more than two dozen dogs that were abandoned by their owners.

Animal Care Service employees said they gathered the dogs from the home of an 86-year-old woman who tried to take care of them on her own.

"They're dogs that had been cast off, thrown out of cars, (and) thrown away by former owners," said Greg Harmon of Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation.

The employees said the woman had picked up the discarded dogs from the road over the last four years and sheltered them in a vacant home and lot she owns.

The woman stopped by the home every week to feed the animals, employees said.

Animal care services eventually collected the dogs and cited the woman for keeping the dozens of dogs, employees said.

The woman became worried the dogs would be euthanized, but Animal Care Services extended the deadline for their confiscation to allow three nonprofit organization to rescue them.

Harmon said the woman got her wish to rescue the dogs.

"This woman, whatever the conditions are here (at the home) today, this was her effort to give them a second chance. Well, now the second chance is coming to fruition," Harmon said.

More than 20 adult dogs and three litters of puppies were rescued.

Angela Grimes of Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation said there is a sad statistic of animals being euthanized after abandonment.

"Animal Care Services, as I understand, kill about 200 cats, dogs and puppies everyday," Grimes said. "So, as you can imagine, that adds up to thousands every year that lose their lives."

Grimes said pet owners don't take responsibility to care for their pets.

"People, No. 1, don't take responsibility for their own pets," Grimes said. "(They) cast them off. Two, they don't have them spay and neutered."

Grimes said local leaders need to come to the animals' rescue and design an areawide spay and neuter initiative.

She said it's the key to ending the overpopulation of pets in the area.

Over the next week, the dogs will undergo spay and neutering.

The nonprofits said anyone interested in adopting the dogs or even volunteering can call 210-698-1709.