PHOENIX -- Dozens of dogs and puppies, mostly pit bulls, are being pulled from a New River home by Valley rescue groups.

Rescuers said many of the animals had only green or brown water to drink, and two were so badly hurt they died from their injuries.

The man who was supposed to be caring for the dogs was a volunteer foster parent for one of the rescue groups.

Dennis Lee was arrested on Saturday and booked on charges of identity theft. The charges are unrelated to the dogs, but because he may be in jail for a while, rescue groups were called in to take the dogs and help care for them.

Evelyn Mangano runs Save Animals From Euthanasia. She said it was a mistake to trust Lee to foster some of her dogs.

"I feel terrible," Mangano said. "I feel like he betrayed me. He told me that he was taking good care of them, that he walked them all the time. He gave me such a line of bull."

Rescuers said several of the dogs had gotten into a fight and were bleeding. One dog died before they got to the property this weekend.

Another was taken to the hospital, but her injuries were too severe and she died late Monday afternoon. Two others were deemed vicious and had to be put down.

"I'm so depressed," Mangano said. "I cried today when I came back and looked at the kennels, I started crying. We're trying to save these dogs."

"They were going to be euthanized at the pound. It’s so hard to find anyone who will take them. We wanted to save some of these poor pit bulls,” she said.

Investigators with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said they had been out to the property several times, but what they found then did not rise to the level of animal cruelty.

Mangano added she may need to start a better screening process for potential foster parents in the future to make sure the animals go to good homes.

Several Valley rescue groups, including Valley of the Sun Dog Rescue, have found foster homes for a majority of the dogs and puppies. They are still looking for homes for about a dozen animals.

"They're just lovable, but I wouldn't suggest someone with little kids taking them. They need to go to an adult home,” said Mangano.

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