NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Several dogs rescued from a puppy mill in Hickman County were all placed in homes Saturday.

Video: Puppies Quickly Adopted At Nashville Shelter

A huge crowd gathered at the Nashville Humane Association Saturday morning for the chance to adopt one of the puppies.

Organizers said so many people arrived that they had to call police to help control the crowd.

Channel Four's Catharyn Campbell reported that some seeking a puppy waited for nearly four hours.

More than 100 people turned in an application to adopt a puppy, but only about 40 dogs were healthy enough to go to a family, officials said.

The puppies were rescued from Pine Bluff Kennels last week, where they were kept in tiny cages with little food or water.

Officials said more than 700 animals were taken from the kennels.

"I can't imagine people doing that to animals. They are not a business. They are meant to be pets," Michelle Runions, who went to adopt a puppy, said.

Officials said those adopting the puppies need to be patient, as some of the puppies may never learn to be housetrained, but those set to adopt said they were up for the challenge.

"I'm pretty excited for this little guy. He's had a rough life, and I just want to help him out and show him he can be loved," Emili Walker said.

The people who operated the puppy mill are still under investigation, police said.

They said everyone who adopted a puppy had to sign a legal agreement stating that some of the puppies may be recalled as evidence against the operators of the puppy mill.

Patricia Adkisson, who owned Pine Bluff Kennels, has not been charged.