SOUTH JERSEY-- It's hard to believe that today was the first time nearly 90 playful pups had a chance to eat a healthy meal, take a bath, or even go for a walk.

“Today we had them outside. I think there are some of them who have never been outside; their feet never touched the dirt or the grass. They were so happy running around like crazy. It's so great to see them out of those conditions,” said Bev Greco, Executive Director of the Cumberland County S.P.C.A.

Yesterday, nearly 90 dogs were rescued from a puppy mill in Upper Pittsgrove Township. Where local and state animal cruelty officials teamed up with the U.S. Humane Society to remove dogs from what they called overcrowded, unsanitary conditions.

They have charged 73•year•old Louanne Koval of Monroeville Road with animal cruelty counts and allegedly running a puppy mill.

“Dogs who have been living in crates their entire lives or pens their entire lives. Some pens were wired shut and we cut them open to get these animals out. Some animals were living in total darkness all of the time,” said Stephanie Shain, Senior Director of the Puppy Mill Campaign with the U.S. Humane Society.

At shelters run by the Cumberland County S.P.C.A these dogs are on the road to recovery. Some, however, needed emergency veterinary care and were treated for issues ranging from severe eye and skin problems, to parasitic infections. For many the damage lies within.

“The emotional scares that these animals suffer from. These are dogs so they're companion animals and they are living a life almost devoid of any companionship,” said Shain.

Even though these dogs are safe officials say puppy mills, locations where dogs are frequently breeding in poor conditions, are not uncommon. Some larger operations could consist of up 1,000 breeding dogs.

“There are about 10,000 puppy mills operating in the United States at any give time, there are puppy mills in every state,” said Shain.

With clean fir and a warm place to sleep these dogs just need one more thing.

“They need love and care, that's really what they need and they will be fine,” said Greco.

Authorities have responded to the Upper Pittsgrove location before. Officials say over the past few months the visited the site multiple times and urged the owner to improve conditions. Before Saturday’s investigation the owner was charged with 8 counts of animal cruelty.