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More and more dogs with physical and mental disabilities are turning up at the Mower County Humane Society.

After one of the most recent cases, the Humane Society said enough is enough.

And now they're trying to find the people responsible for these dogs.

A broken leg, no teeth and a mutilated ear are all proof of man turning on his best friend.

"Certain owners can't afford to deal with them or just don't want to," says volunteer Barry Rush.

When 6-month old Lionel came to the Mower County Humane Society, volunteers noticed fresh scabs on his ears.

They say someone tried to perform an at-home surgery to crop his ears.

"It was a botched job and left him with a terribly mutilated right ear that just virtually left him with a hole in his head," says Rush.

And then there's Gus, a dog with a broken leg that was allowed to heal in a crooked position.

And a severe infection cost Clarence, a nine-year old cocker spaniel, his teeth.

These aren't the only cases of abuse and neglect that have turned up at the Humane Society.

The hard part is finding who's responsible.

All Rush knows is that Lionel was found near Waltham.

"I don't know if that's where it occurred or if he was dropped out there or if he ran away and ran there; we don't know."

Rush says a case like Lionel's could be considered a felony in Minnesota.

But even if the owner is found, prosecution is difficult.

"In absence of somebody actually seeing this dog in this person's possession and proving the ownership -- once we prove that, then they can be prosecuted," says Mower County Sheriff Terese Amazi.

Amazi says she can only remember three cases of prosecuted animal abuse in the last year.

But the Humane Society is doing what it can to catch what rush calls Lionel's backyard surgeons.

"There might be someone who knows something about this dog."

And if you know anything about Lionel's case, you can call the Mower County Humane Society at 437-9262 or the Mower County Sheriff's Office at 437-9400.

You can also give the Humane Society a call if you're interested in adopting one of these dogs.