Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1) — At least 53 dogs, including four pregnant ones, and 17 cats abandoned by their owners on the island community of Taliptip in Bulacan before the onset of Super Typhoon Rolly were rescued last week by the Animal Kingdom Foundation and San Miguel Corporation.

Animal Kingdom Foundation program director Heidi Caguioa shared some of the abandoned puppies had skin issues, while others were “really in bad shape” when the rescue teams found them. Other animals were also hard to catch because they were afraid of people.

“If you see them on the island alone and hungry, of course, you will feel heartbroken,” Caguioa recounted the rescue experience in an interview with CNN Philippines’ New Day on Tuesday.

“When we found them of course they were surprised to see, maybe again, people on the island. The island is abandoned. It is empty and all,” she narrated.

Caguioa said that the animals are currently in their rescue shelter in Capas, Tarlac where they will be nursed back to health until they could be re-homed.

“We are doing some medical or veterinary care rehabilitation plan to make sure they get back to good health because we are preparing for their re-homing in the future,” the animal welfare activist added.

She said the rescued animals may be up for adoption in six months, at the earliest, or once they learn how to socialize and trust human beings again.

Caguioa added prospective owners could visit the shelter or their Facebook page for updates on when and how they could give these “very sweet and loving” animals a new home.