13 emaciated Great Danes rescued from abandoned breeding farm in Thailand

An animal rights group rescued 13 emaciated Great Danes after the dogs were left to starve to death on an abandoned breeding farm in Thailand.

Volunteer veterinarians from Watchdog Thailand and the Pathum Thani Livestock Development Office's Animal Welfare Division rescued the animals from a house in Lat Lum Kaeo, the westernmost district of Pathum Thani Province, located in central Thailand.

The home was being used as a breeding facility by a middle-aged woman, who had to shut down operations amid her divorce and ongoing financial struggles, Nation Thailand reports.

The woman, whose identity has not been released, allegedly told veterinarian Kangwan Thirathamrong that she intended to raise the dogs and sell them for a profit, when the operation fell apart.

The large dogs were suffering from severe malnutrition and living in filthy conditions when they were brought in for treatment.

Watchdog Thailand took to Facebook on Aug. 19 to share disturbing photos of the skeletal animals, which have since been shared over 41,000 times.

The posts caught the attention of the country's king, Rama X, who "adopted" the animals and ordered his household to cover the cost of their treatment, the Bangkok Post reports.

"His Majesty has kindly adopted these dogs and they will be taken care of at the bureau's dog care center after they recover their health," Department of Livestock Development Deputy Director General Somchuan Rattanamangkhalanon said Wednesday.

The dog breeder will face animal cruelty charges, Somchuan added.