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| Hundreds of dogs were seized from a Washington state puppy mill Wednesday. Watch the slideshow» ©The HSUS/Milani |
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Update:
The nearly 400 American Eskimo Dogs seized from a Kennewick, Wash., kennel by The Benton County Sheriff's Office and The Humane Society of the United States have been moved to shelters in Washington and Oregon to begin their new lease on life. The last dogs cared for at the Benton County Fairgrounds temporary shelter were released to local animal shelters this morning; staff and volunteers will close the temporary shelter today.
The HSUS commends the Benton County Sheriff's Office, volunteer animal care teams from United Animal Nations, Spokane Humane Evacuation Animal Response Team, PetSmart Charities, Coleman Animal Health Center, local veterinarians and close to a dozen Northwest area shelters for their support and assistance on this case.
May 28, 2009
The Humane Society of the United States assisted the Benton County, Wash., Sheriff's Office Wednesday with the seizure of hundreds of dogs from a Kennewick, Wash., puppy mill. Nearly 400 dogs rescued from the mill were relinquished Thursday, enabling The HSUS to reach out to selected shelters and rescue groups to take in the miniature American Eskimo dogs.
No Sun in This Valley
Ella Stewart, owner and operator of Sun Valley Kennel, has not been charged in connection with the Benton County Sheriff's Office's seizure of her animals Wednesday. She was charged in early May with one count of second-degree animal cruelty, prompting the continued investigation. Prosecutors are considering additional charges.
Stewart surrendered the animals to the Sheriff's Office Wednesday, and Sheriff Larry Taylor is working with the Benton County Prosecutor's Office to transfer custody of the animals, who can then be placed up for adoption. Meanwhile, The HSUS staffers, local veterinarians and other animal welfare workers continue to care for the dogs at the temporary shelter at Benton County Fairgrounds.
A Sad Existence
The dogs lived in deplorable conditions: some were confined to shopping carts, while others spun circles in rusty pens caked with feces. The smell of hot urine emanated from the property, which was lined with pens and more makeshift cages created with plywood and rusty metal doors. Some of the dogs suffered from malnutrition, urine burns, and overgrown nails. See the slideshow»
"None of these dogs have felt the security of solid ground beneath them nor the comfort of a loving home," said Dan Paul, The HSUS's Washington state director. "Cases like this illustrate the exact reason why enacting legislation like Washington's S.B. 5651 is so critical. One person cannot reasonably take care of this many animals, period."
Cracking Down on Puppy Mills
S.B. 5651, recently signed into law by Gov. Christine Gregoire, will crack down on puppy mills by putting a cap on the number of dogs these facilities can keep and by establishing some basic animal welfare standards. The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2010.
The Rescue
The Humane Society of the United States, assisted by United Animal Nations and Spokane Humane Evacuation Animal Rescue Team (HEART), worked throughout the day Wednesday to assess, examine and catalogue the animals. The dogs will be taken to a temporary shelter under The HSUS' care.
A Bright Future
The following shelters are accepting dogs:
Spokane Humane Society
Spokane County Regional Animal Protection (SCRAPS)
SpokAnimal Care
Blue Mountain Humane Society (Walla Walla)
Humane Society for Seattle-King County (Bellevue)
Benton-Franklin Humane Society (Kennewick)
Multnomah County Animal Control (Troutdale, Ore.)
American Eskimo Heart Bandits (Fresno. Calif.)
Oregon Humane Society (Portland)
Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) (Lynnwood)
About Emergency Services
The HSUS's Emergency Services division assists with puppy mill raids throughout the country, in addition to helping law enforcement with other animal cruelty raids, including hoarding situations and animal fighting rings.
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This was one of the hundreds of miniature American eskimo dogs rescued. Watch the slideshow» ©The HSUS/Milani |
This operation is made possible in part from funding provided to The HSUS by Kenneth and Lillian Wilde, who created the Wilde Puppy Mill Task Force to rescue animals from abusive puppy mills. PetSmart Charities donated shelter supplies, and local veterinarians and technicians provided their time and services.
The Facts About Puppy Mills
Breeding dogs at puppy mills must endure constant breeding cycles and are typically confined to a puppy mill for years on end, without ever becoming part of a family. Dogs at puppy mills typically receive little to no medical care, live in squalid conditions with no exercise, socialization or human interaction, and are confined inside cramped wire cages for life.
Puppies from puppy mills are sold in pet stores, online and directly to consumers with little to no regard for the dog's health, genetic history or future welfare.
Consumers should never buy a puppy from a pet store or the Internet; instead visit an animal shelter or screen a breeder's facility in person.
