The three women who were held captive for nearly a decade in a Cleveland home can decide whether they want to keep any of the three dogs that shared a roof with them in the home of their alleged kidnapper.
Until then, the three dogs rescued from Ariel Castro's Cleveland home - one Chihuahua and two terrier-poodle mixes - will remain in foster care.
ABC News reports that the three women - Gina DeJesus, 23, Amanda Berry, 27, and Michelle Knight, 32 - remain in remarkably good spirits since they were rescued from Castro's home in Cleveland in Ohio state on May 6.
John Baird, the chief animal control officer for the Cleveland metropolitan area, told ABC News that the dogs have been groomed and fitted with microchips for identification.
"We think that maybe one of these women, or all of the women, may have bonded with one or more of these dogs and we'd like to make sure they get a chance to get one of them, or whatever dog they bonded with, to maybe make things a bit easier on them," Baird said, adding that it does not appear that the dogs had been mistreated.
The dogs had mangy, unkempt and matted hair that needed cleaning but were otherwise in good health.
"The animals aren't very shy, so that's usually a sign that they've been cared for at least in some way," Baird had earlier told local station WOIO.
Ariel Castro remains in custody on an USD 8 million bond for his alleged crimes. He has yet to issue a plea.
The rescue group that agreed to care for the dogs in the interim has been revealed to be Dogs Unlimited Rescue.
The Chihuahua was nabbed from Castro's car after Castro himself was arrested at a fast food restaurant shortly after the women were rescued.
The two terrier-poodle mixes were taken by an animal control worker that night from Castro's home. The house has since been boarded up and roped off as a crime scene.
