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Puppy mills are the cruel reality behind those cute puppies for sale in pet stores and online. © The HSUS |
After weeks of planning and coordination among local law enforcement and animal welfare groups, hundreds of neglected dogs were rescued Monday from squalid conditions at a puppy mill in Logan County, Ark.
Rescue Mission
About 45 rescue workers from The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society of Missouri and other groups found the animals living in dilapidated structures throughout the 82-acre property. They removed approximately 350 dogs, 29 miniature ponies, six cats and several exotic birds and turtles from the property.
It was obvious that many of these animals had never known life outside their wire cages.
“The cruelty inflicted on these animals – for the profit of the mill owners – is unimaginable,” said Desiree Bender, Arkansas state director for The HSUS who worked closely with local law enforcement to coordinate the raid.
“Most people don’t realize that this is the reality behind those cute puppies for sale in pet stores and online,” she continued. “These dogs had been kept in tiny cages and forced to breed continuously.”
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| Puppy mill dogs are kept in cramped cages and forced to breed continuously for profit. © The HSUS |
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Planning for Monday's raid began weeks ago when Bender met with the mill operators – an elderly couple – about buying a puppy. As an eyewitness to the property conditions, she knew she had enough evidence for the sheriff to obtain a warrant for seizure.
That set the wheels in motion. HSUS rescue teams were called in and coordination with law enforcement and animal protection groups ramped up.
Giving Them Shelter
The dogs -- ranging from Shih Tzus and Poodles to Akitas and Shelties -- were suffering from serious medical ailments and housed in filthy conditions. Many were severely matted and had untreated lacerations and serious skin and eye infections. Some of the first to be freed were day-old puppies.
The animals were transported to a nearby emergency shelter set up for the rescue. The dogs were then checked by a team of veterinarians and given any necessary immediate medical care.
Today, 30 of the animals were moved to the Missouri humane society where they will be evaluated and placed for adoption. All the horses also were transported to a nearby equine sanctuary. The remaining dogs will be transported over the next few days to humane organizations from Texas to Colorado where they will begin the social rehabilitation necessary to ready them for their new lives as family pets.
On other fronts, volunteers from United Animal Nations assisted with the temporary shelter for the rescued animals. PetSmart Charities® sent its Emergency Relief Waggin’® full of donated goods such as wire crates, dog food and bedding.
Meet the Parents
Some of the animals were sold over the Internet using online classified ads, highlighting the problem of buying puppies without visiting the breeder and meeting the puppies’ parents.
“People were buying the puppies without knowing the cruelty they were supporting,” Bender said. “It is vital that anyone buying a puppy go and see for themselves where they were born, meet the parent dogs and ensure they are being well cared for.”
This latest puppy mill raid is just one more piece of evidence showing the need for better regulation of mass breeding operations to ensure animals are being humanely treated.
Learn more puppy buying tips from The HSUS.
