More Than 200 Dogs Rescued from Penn. Puppy Mill

	Fifty dogs were transported to HSUS headquarters in Gaithersburg, Md., where they were met by local rescue groups to take them in and find them homes.© The HSUS 2009/Grzybowski

Update:

Teams from The Humane Society of the United States and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture moved the more than 200 dogs rescued from a Pennsylvania puppy mill earlier this week to the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex.

Some have been transported to area animal shelters and rescue groups, while others will be moved in the days ahead.

"The future looked pretty bleak just 24 hours ago for these dogs, but now thanks to The Humane Society of the United States and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, they have been given a chance to live out safe, healthy lives," said Stephanie Shain, senior director of the Puppy Mill Campaign at The HSUS.

"We hope this rescue opens the eyes of consumers about the importance of checking out the facility of any breeder before you buy a puppy."

"We are grateful for the outpouring of compassion and the level of charity that we have seen in this rescue mission," said Jessie Smith, Pennsylvania's special deputy secretary for Dog Law Enforcement.

"Without the unwavering efforts of The HSUS, the Pennsylvania State Police and volunteers from across the state, the dogs we are sending off now for adoption might still be living in conditions no dog lover would consider acceptable.

Because of all the groups involved, these dogs and the families that adopt them will now have happier lives."

This rescue mission ran smoothly due in part to the outpouring of support from the Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team and several central Pennsylvania County Animal Response Teams.

These response groups are an integral part of the commonwealth's capacity to respond to both human-made and natural disasters that affect animals.

The dogs are being checked thoroughly by a team of veterinarians before being transported to shelters and rescue groups in the region.

Nearly 300 dogs were rescued from abysmal conditions in Pennsylvania.© The HSUS/Turner

June 24, 2009

More than 200 dogs have a new "leash" on life thanks to the diligent efforts of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and The Humane Society of the United States, who came together to rescue the animals from horrific conditions at a Lehigh County puppy mill.

"These animals were subjected to years of constant confinement and denied loving human care and socialization. The Humane Society of the United States is grateful to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture for enforcing the commonwealth's Dog Law and coming to the aid of man's best friend," said Sarah Speed, Pennsylvania state director for The HSUS.

The HSUS was called in by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement to assist with this case.

HSUS staffer Beau Archer removes two of hundreds of dogs from the puppy mill.© The HSUS/Turner

The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement investigated the Almost Heaven kennels, and took permanent custody of all of the dogs due to the owner's failure to appeal his recent license delisting.

Custody of the animals will be transferred to The HSUS once the dogs leave the property. The HSUS is providing animal handling assistance and overseeing sheltering and transport of the rescued animals. Much-needed sheltering supplies were provided by PetSmart Charities®.

When rescuers arrived at Almost Heaven they found a disturbing scene. The dogs, mainly small breeds and designer mixes, were being housed in a variety of small pens, wire crates and kennels throughout the property.

Responders found typical puppy mill conditions; many of the dogs were suffering from skin and eye infections as well as other medical ailments. It is likely that many of these animals had never known life outside their cramped enclosures.

Rescuers are working to remove all of the animals and transport them to a nearby emergency shelter set up by The HSUS. Once at the shelter the dogs will be checked by a team of veterinarians and given any necessary immediate medical care. The HSUS and local volunteers will care for the animals while they recover at their temporary home.

The dogs will soon be transported to rescue groups and humane societies throughout the region, where they will be made available for adoption.

This operation is made possible in part from funding provided to The HSUS by the Kenneth and Lillian Wilde Estate, who created the Wilde Puppy Mill Task Force to rescue animals from abusive puppy mills.

The emergency shelter is located at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. Representatives from The HSUS and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will be available for interview at the emergency shelter after all of the dogs have been transported.

What You Can Do

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