Photos: Two Criminally Abused Dogs Looking for a Home

Two small dogs spending their days at the Sacramento County Animal Shelter have a much more painful back story than most of the animals there.

Shadow and Baby, Chihuahuas being fostered by a shelter employee, were sexually abused by their former owner, to 10 years in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender.

Photographer Nicole McArthur has an extensive photo gallery showing the pair of dogs playing at the shelter, but it comes with a warning.

"I'll be honest with you," McArthur writes. "This post will infuriate you and likely make you cry."

Click here to see the photos.

McArthur writes that the dogs are ready to be adopted, but there are some extra criteria:

"If you are interested in adopting Shadow and Baby, there are some important conditions to be met:

1) They are to be adopted together as they are strongly bonded to each other. They are each other's support system.

2) Prospective adopters will be thoroughly screened to ensure the best possible placement. This will include a home check if the adopter is a person not known to the shelter. I am pretty sure that their foster mom will be a part of this screening process. And believe you me, she is tough. These dogs will not go home with just anyone.

3) If the adoption does not work out for any reason, BOTH dogs must be returned to the shelter and to the shelter only.

If you have questions about Shadow and Baby, please contact Laura Badeker at (916) 876-7657."