An Ontario animal shelter says they are 鈥渙verwhelmed鈥 by the number of adoption offers they鈥檝e received for 12 rescued beagle puppies that were abandoned on the side of the road.

, the vice president of the Alliston Humane Society, said they can鈥檛 accept any more adoption applications for the animals.

鈥淲e are overwhelmed with the number of potential adopters,鈥 Jane Clarke wrote.

The 10-week-old puppies were found in two different locations, north of Toronto, on Tuesday. Five of the beagles were found on the side of the road in Adjala-Tosorontio Township and the other seven were discovered in Amaranth Township approximately 12 hours later.

Jackie Akeson, the humane society鈥檚 treasurer, said the puppies were lucky to be found when they were.

鈥淵ou look at the weather out today. It鈥檚 pouring rain. They鈥檙e out in the elements. There are coyotes in this area,鈥 she told CTV Barrie on Tuesday. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e quite fortunate.鈥

Two of the puppies are being examined at the shelter, but Akeson said they鈥檙e all doing well overall.

Even though the animals were found in different locations and there are so many of them, the humane society believes the 12 beagles came from the same litter.

鈥淚t鈥檚 quite possible. They seem to be the same age,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t is a large litter, but it does happen.鈥

The puppies will be cared for in the shelter for the next week before they鈥檙e put up for adoption.

The Alliston Humane Society is urging anyone with information about where the beagles came from and who abandoned them to contact the Ontario SPCA. They鈥檙e also asking anyone who may be struggling to care for their pets to reach out to their nearest shelter before resorting to drastic measures, such as abandonment.

With a report from CTV Barrie鈥檚 Rob Cooper