Flower Mound police are sniffing out a case of abandoned canines and new homes are needed for the displaced dogs.

Police said that they received a call Tuesday morning at 1:19 a.m. about a large number of small dogs running loose in the area of Stonecrest Road and Hwy 377.

Animal Services Officers were able to capture 51 Maltese mixed-breed dogs. The dogs ranged in age from one- to ten-years-old.

It is suspected that a puppy mill dumped the dogs in response to a new state law that requires such operations to have a license.

The caninies were transported to the Flower Mound Animal Adoption Center for evaluation and care.

Initial examination revealed the dogs were in very poor hygienic condition with severely matted hair but in good physical health.

Each dog is being groomed, evaluated, and tested over the next several days and to further determine their condition.

At this time, it appears all the dogs will be eligible for adoption and Flower Mound Animal Services will be working closely with rescue operations and local adoption centers to place all of the recovered dogs, town officials said.

Beginning Monday, Oct. 8, anyone interested in adopting one of these dogs is asked to call the Flower Mound Animal Adoption Center at 972-874-6390.

There is no charge to adopt a dog or cat; however, state and town ordinances require that the adopter have the animal vaccinated for rabies and spayed or neutered within 15 days of adoption.

The Flower Mound Police Department is investigating the incident as an Animal Cruelty case and asks anyone with information about these dogs or their owner to contact the Flower Mound Police Department at 972-539-0525 or the anonymous Tip Line at 972-874-3307.