DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A pet rescue organization has been finding and treating unwanted dogs that have been dumped in a central Iowa forest.

AHeinz57 Pet Rescue and Transport CEO Amy Heinz says her organization discovered last week that dogs were routinely dumped in the forest, abandoned by people who no longer wanted them.

The Des Moines Register reports that the organization was able to trap seven dogs over the weekend, but 20 more are still gathered in packs in the forest.

Several of the dogs have fresh wounds. Heinz says they are being treated for ticks and Lyme Disease. She declined to release the name of the forest out of fear people will try looking for the dogs.

Abandoning pets is illegal in Iowa and is considered a simple misdemeanor under state code.