There have been previous attempts to evacuate the dogs, according to Bill Stanley, a Republican senator from Virginia.
– I tried to shut them down in 2019, but did not succeed. But we never stopped fighting.
The facility where the dogs were bred has previously been sued for animal cruelty, the BBC reports. Among other things, it was discovered that dogs were euthanized instead of receiving veterinary care for conditions that could easily have been treated. Now the plant has closed down.
Hear more about the rescue in the clip above.