PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. — On Tuesday, dog advocates were caring for the three malnourished puppies that police officers rescued in Pembroke Pines.

It was about 40 degrees on Sunday when police officers reported finding a French bulldog mix and two pit bull mixes in a small crate at a patio without food or water.

“The bone structure of all three dogs was visibly apparent, including their ribs, spine, and midsection,” a police officer wrote, according to a police arrest report.

Animal advocates help puppies after rescue from abuse in Broward

Angela Goodwin, the president of Pooches in Pines, a nonprofit organization of volunteers, described the dogs lovingly as 5-month-old Lana, her 5-month-old sister Sasha, and 2-year-old Peaches.

“We have had a lot of abuse cases over the years. This was probably one of the most severe,” Goodwin said.

During a much-needed visit to the vet, Lana weighed 4.2 pounds, but should be about 10 pounds.

“She got fluids yesterday and really bounced back quickly,” Goodwin said.

Sasha was slightly bigger, but still malnourished, and Peaches was nearly 10 pounds underweight, according to Goodwin, who described their case as “upsetting and gut-wrenching.”

Police officers arrested Jaylen Holmes, who was caring for the dogs, on Sunday in an apartment near Southwest 122 Avenue and 11 Court, and he appeared in Broward County bond court on Monday.

Holmes, 24, was out on pre-trial supervision for a domestic violence case of touch or strike battery. The bond court judge ordered him to stay away from animals and denied him bail.

Holmes faced 14 new charges: Three counts of impounding confined animals without sufficient food or water; six counts of keeping animals in enclosures without exercise and air; three counts of torment, depriving, or mutilating an animal; two counts of causing cruel death, pain, and suffering to an animal.