Paterson animal control officers are caring for a dog and her puppies found abandoned without food or water.

The canine family was discovered on the second floor of an empty North First Street home. Paterson animal control chief John DeCando believes the owners skipped town on the first of the month, estimating the dogs have been alone for about three weeks.

The dogs were found emaciated and coated in feces and urine. They have since been cleaned, but still show signs of starvation.

"Anybody who does something like this to a poor creature should rot in hell," says DeCando.

DeCando expects whoever left the dogs behind will be prosecuted. The chief is encouraging anyone who can't care for their pet to contact animal control and surrender the animal rather than just dumping it.

"If dogs are friendly or nice, we'll be able to get good homes for them," he says.

For more on the abandoned dogs, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.