'My heart is broken': Litter of puppies euthanized after rabies exposure at rescue event

A rescue organization is heartbroken after a whole litter of puppies was euthanized after being exposed to rabies.

"They were good boys and girls," stated a post on the rescue's Facebook page. " All they wanted was to love a person and to have a person love them back."

The puppies were adopted from Moms and Mutts: Colorado Rescue for Pregnant and Nursing Dogs, a rescue group in Englewood, Colorado, located 6.6 miles south of Denver.

"I cannot deal with the fact that 10 healthy puppies that I made a promise to are gone, and I couldn't do anything to stop it," wrote the rescue. "My heart is broken for everyone involved, and I am sad to say this isn't over."

Pet owners advocate against rabies vax: Here's why rabies is dangerous.

2 out of the 12 puppies tested positive for rabies

The puppies were not vaccinated when they were exposed to rabies, according to a press release from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

"In these situations, the exposed animals should be euthanized immediately or placed on a strict 120-day quarantine in a facility that can secure them away from humans and other animals," it stated. "Because strict quarantine is not feasible, the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians' guidance recommends euthanasia of exposed, unvaccinated animals."

The department announced the public safety warning on August 9 and said it would contact the people who were fostering the puppies.

Rabid dogs are uncommon

Rabid dogs in the U.S. are uncommon, but they are responsible "95% of the estimated 70,000 human deaths that occur each year," stated the Center for Disease Control.

The CDC recommends people who are at risk of being exposed to rabies get a pre-exposure vaccination.

What is rabies?

Rabies is a preventable but lethal viral disease that only affects mammals.

It can affect a person's central nervous system and can lead to the following, according to the CDC:

• Severe brain disease
• Death

Rabies is spread through the saliva of infected animals, according to the National Park Service . The virus has been found in every state in the country except for Hawaii.

What should you do if exposed to rabies?

Humans who are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal will need to receive a series of shots to prevent the virus from infecting them, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Around 60,000 people a year are treated after they were potentially exposed to the virus.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'My heart is broken': Litter of puppies euthanized after rabies exposure at rescue event