MISHAWAKA — Smiles and tears spread through dozens of volunteers, as 35 dogs from a southern Indiana puppy mill took their first steps toward a new home.

The dogs are part of a much larger group of 239 dogs, seized by the Humane Society of the United States from a farm in New Albany, Indiana on Tuesday.

The Indiana Attorney General, Indiana Department of Revenue and Indiana State Police served a search warrant at the Harrison County farm, after allegations that the farm's owner and her daughter failed to pay sales and income taxes on dogs they sold.

Once inside, investigators found dogs living in poor conditions, without adequate bedding, food or water. Some dogs also had feces in their food and water bowls, and one dog was found dead in its cage.

Volunteers at four shelters in three states are helping to give the dogs a second chance at life.

Humane Society workers dropped off several truckloads of dogs at shelters in Indianapolis, Calumet City, Illinois and Kentucky before driving toward the Pet Refuge shelter in Mishawaka. Pet Refuge was selected because it's a "no kill" facility, meaning no pets are ever euthanized there.

The rescued dogs brought to Pet Refuge are all smaller breeds, including poodles, chihuahuas, and terriers. They received a warm welcome Thursday afternoon from a group of more than 50 smiling volunteers.

Among them was Kristy Boyd, who stood anxiously anticipating the dogs' arrival.

The final moment didn't disappoint.

"It's very anticipating, because you want to know what's coming. It's just great, you know? It melts your heart," she said.

As a semi-truck carrying a special trailer filled with abused and neglected puppies pulled up outside Pet Refuge, emotions boiled over into a standing ovation of cheers and clapping.

As the first dogs emerged from their long journey north, smiles and tears were impossible to hide.

"I almost cried when I saw the truck, honestly," said Pet Refuge volunteer Amy Rhodes. "I kind of welled up. It's just really exciting just to help the animals. It's just... it's a really good feeling."

It's also a very different feeling than the one Humane Society workers felt just two days before.

"What we've seen is horrific on my terms," said one volunteer, after rescuing the dogs from the New Albany farm.

"I'll cry about the conditions that they were in when I get home," said another.

It had some at Pet Refuge fearing the worst.

"You never know what you're going to get when you volunteer to do this type of rescue," said Pet Refuge volunteer and board member Pam Comer. "But, actually, they're in good shape. This is really not as much of a cruelty situation as it is a tax issue. So the dogs we're receiving have minor health issues. but we don't have major health issues here."

After what some of the dogs have been through, Humane Society of the U.S. volunteer Diann Wellman says it's an incredible outcome.

"In comparison to the puppy mills I've been to in the past, these dogs are in excellent shape. They have great temperament and they're fairly well taken care of," she said.

That could be, in part, because of the relatively small size of the Harrison County operation, Wellman said.

"We've done them up to 1,000 dogs at a time in one puppy mill, which is a huge dog operation," she said. "And it really declines them mentally and emotionally. Sometimes they go cage crazy. Some of them, I'm amazed they come out as good as they do."

Now, they are coming in for a closer inspection.

"They'll go to our infirmary for what we call a mini-exam," said Comer. "They'll be examined, weighed, wormed, vaccinated for whatever they need. Then, they'll be taken to foster stations over the next few days."

Those foster homes are generally with a shelter volunteer, and though they are only temporary, Comer says they make a big impact.

"It helps them get used to life outside of a cage. It's like they're sort of pre-housebroken. And, people have really stepped up to the plate to make that happen. They really want to make a difference," Comer said.

"I'll probably be taking something home tonight, yeah," laughed Rhodes in agreement. "How can you say no? These dogs have had no quality of life at all, whatsoever. That's something they'll get here, with lots of love. Because we treat the dogs like our own."

The goal now is to give each animal a permanent home.

"They've never walked on grass before. So this is going to be a whole new beginning for them," said Boyd.

That new beginning will take a little time. Most of the puppies will have to stay in quarantine for the next two weeks.

If you want to adopt one of them, you can get a head start by filling out an application on Pet Refuge's website.

If you can't adopt one of the pets, you can still help by donating food, supplies or money.