GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Most of the 266 animals brought to the Clay County Agriculture Fairgrounds on Oct. 11 were hungry, thirsty, covered in fleas, filthy and in dire need of medical attention.

Nearly two months after they were rescued from a one-acre home on Old Jennings Road, they will be sent to loving homes.

The county approved 517 applications from residents who want to adopt the dogs, pigs, goats, rabbits, chickens, trutles and other birds that were “mistreated” and kept in small pens on the dilapidated property. There was such an outcry of support following the raid, Emergency Management Director John Ward said a lottery-like system will be used to determine when, and if, residents will be allowed to come to the fairgrounds to pick out a new pet.

“We’ve turned over the applications to the county auditor and they will assign a date and time for the adoption,” Ward said. “It’s all being done randomly. There are so many people who want to help, but a lot of them are going to go home empty-handed.”

Within days of arriving at the fairgrounds, residents and businesses inundated the fairgrounds with food, leashes, collars, shampoo, blankets and treats. The response was so overwhelming, within days the county had to stop accepting the donations.

Jennifer Michelle Wilkie was given an opportunity to convince a Clay County judge the animals should be returned to her property, but she failed to appear to answer the county’s lawsuit on Oct. 21. Judge Timothy R. Collins not only took custody of the animals away from her, Collins said she also was responsible for all costs related to the recovery and care of the animals and she was banned from owning animals in the future.

According to records at the Clerk of Courts office, the case is now closed. Added with the improved health of the animals, the adoption process will be competed “in the next couple weeks,” Ward said.

More than 200 of the applicants were interested in adopting the livestock animals, Ward said.

Once applicants are given an appointment number, they will be escorted through the livestock area where they can pick out one animal. Adoptions will be restricted to one animal for each address, Ward said. Each adoption will include the health needs of the animal, and new owners must agree to the possible challenges and future care. As many as 80 dogs need dental care, a veterinarian told the judge.

And since there was so donated, new pet owners will be able to take home a “goody bag” of supplies. Leftover supplies will be sent to the county’s animal shelter to replenish what was needed immediately after they were rescued.

“One thing everyone needs to know is you must have an appointment to adopt one of the animals,” Ward said.

County officials accepted appointment applications for three days last week. Each applicant was required to assure officials they are zoned to own pets. And if they’ve ever surrendered an animal to a shelter, they were required to offer an explanation.

Ward told the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday registrants who didn’t receive a timeslot were encouraged to monitor the county’s social media to see if any animals were not adopted.

“We were trying to do it as controlled and organized as possible,” Ward said.

Ward told commissioners he’s fielded calls from the state and has been told this is the largest animal seizure managed by a local government. County Manager Howard Wanamaker said the process was grueling and took long hours from staff and volunteers.

“Without them, this wouldn’t have been possible,” Wanamaker said. “[Volunteers] took care of the animals, fed them, cleaned out the cages.”

“I will tell you your team, animal care and control, public works, volunteers, all the agencies involved ... did a phenomenal job in this unique circumstance,” Ward said.

Staff writer Nick Blank contributed to this story.