More than 40 puppies are ready for adoption at the Washington County Humane Society after the Washington County Sheriff's Office rescued them as they were being illegally transported from many southern states to a home in Richfield.

Lt. Tim Kemps of the Sheriff's Office told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that a 34-year-old Richfield man got the puppies from Texas and other southern states and was bringing them north in his pickup truck. The man's goal was to make money from the puppies, Kemp said.

He said that the man posted on Facebook that he was getting about 40 puppies. Someone who saw the post reported it to police, concerned that the man did not have the means to support all of the animals.

Two officers from the Washington County Sheriff's Office were waiting at the man's Richfield residence when he arrived. Kemps said there was no paperwork on the puppies and no documentation on their medical history.

"Potential purchasers would not know the health of the dogs," he said.  

He also said the officers reported that the puppies were going to be kept in livestock stalls and there would not have been adequate nourishment.

The officers rescued 46 puppies and one adult dog at about 9 p.m. Friday. They were taken to the Washington County Humane Society at about 10 p.m. Seven staff members worked until about 2 a.m. assessing the dogs' medical conditions, providing vaccines and dewormer, flea, tick and heartworm preventatives and briefly quarantining the dogs from other shelter animals to prevent the potential spread of disease, according to Kay Amland, the humane society's executive director.

Early Saturday morning, the humane society's vet, Steven Cybela, examined them and noted there were no major health concerns, according to a news release from the humane society. 

The puppies are estimated to be between eight weeks and four months old, Amland said. 

Amland said nearly 100 volunteers helped throughout the weekend to get the puppies ready for adoption. She said the volunteers cleaned kennels, walked the dogs, did laundry, clipped nails and played with the dogs.

"Some volunteers came back three times a day, some cut their vacation short when they heard (about the puppies) to help out," she said. "I was moved to tears. The community can be proud."

The puppies can be viewed and adopted between 1 and 5 p.m. Tuesday, 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  To make a donation, view the pets available for adoption or apply to adopt, visit wchspets.org or stop by the Washington County Humane Society at 3650 Highway 60, Slinger. More information about the puppies is available on the shelter’s Facebook page,  www.facebook.com/thewchs. 

No charges have been filed against the man who was bringing in the dogs; the incident remains under investigation, Kemps said.

More:Washington County Humane Society looking for people to provide outdoor shelter to cats

More:Stingl: Dog lovers lined up to adopt a 14-year-old sad-eyed collie that came in as a stray

Amland said that the Washington County Humane Society needs donations of Purina Puppy Chow, durable dog toys and monetary donations to purchase dewormer, flea/tick and heartworm preventatives, vaccines and food. 

Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kozlowicz_cathy.