VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) —  Dorris and her puppies Agatha, Bernard, Alfred, Edmund, Milton and Mabel have traveled a long way.

They, along with 23 other dogs, are now resting at the Virginia Beach SPCA after being rescued from a home in South Carolina.

“They weren’t living in the best conditions,” said Kirstin Decroix with the VBSPCA. “There was alleged dog fighting going on, but you could not tell with the behavior of these animals. They were as sweet as can be. The rescuers even said when they got there that they weren’t met with scared mean dogs. They were met with hopeful happy dogs, tails wagging.”

Often times, shelters see a hesitation to adopt dogs who are rescued from dog fighting situations. The Virginia Beach SPCA is reminding people that all dogs are different and typically just want to feel safe.

“You might walk up to a dog’s kennel and they might growl at you, and that’s because they are scared, not because they are aggressive,” Decroix said. “It’s because you’re a new person essentially walking into their bedroom.”

Dorris and her puppies will now be fixed and vaccinated. It will be several weeks before they are ready for adoption.

An investigation continues into the home they were rescued from.