Two Brevard County dogs abandoned by their owners played with toys at Brevard Animal Services Thursday, healthy, happy and a far cry from the wretched state they were found in six weeks ago.

  • Baloo and Mowgli found in October in Grant-Valkaria
  • Left abandoned, emaciated and severely dehydrated
  • Now weigh 50 pounds each and soon heading to rescue group

Baloo and Mowgli -- named by workers at the county shelter in Melbourne -- were found severely dehydrated and emaciated at a Grant-Valkaria home in mid October.

Each was more than a year old but weighed only 20 pounds. They had mange, parasites and other health issues.

After six weeks with Brevard Animal Services, the dogs weigh about 50 pounds each and are in foster care.

"For somebody to leave those dogs, for that amount of time, to get to the point where they were about to die, it's horrible," said Joe Hellebrand with Brevard Animal Services.

Baloo and Mowgli will soon head to the Friends of Animals Sanctuary, where eventually they may find forever homes.

Daniel Compton Puranda and Catherine Oyuela are charged with animal cruelty and abandonment in the case.