Owners worry about puppies that came from Petland March 23, 2009

Source: Associated Press, March 21, 2009

CINCINNATI (AP) — Dawn Lewis and her family still miss Cash, the dog she had put to sleep in 2007 after it attacked her son and left him with scars on his face and ear.

She wonders now whether the Akita’s behavior was a result of puppy mill breeding by Petland Inc., which sold her the dog in 2006.

Pet owners nationwide are suing the chain in federal court, questioning their pets’ medical and behavioral problems and accusing the Ohio-based company of selling dogs bred in filthy conditions.

The lawsuit filed this week against Petland, the Hunte Corp. and other unnamed suppliers claims the companies misled thousands of customers into believing sick puppies came from the finest breeders when they really came from puppy mills and brokers. Petland and Hunte have denied the claims.

Puppy mills are high-volume breeding kennels that animal protection groups say harm the animals and lead to sick puppies being sold to consumers.

“This scheme to conceal the origin of these puppy-mill puppies from consumers has left thousands of families in its wake suffering from emotional turmoil and significant monetary losses,” says the suit filed by six Petland customers — including members of The Humane Society of the United States.

“The claims that we conspired to sell sick puppies to consumers are baseless,” Hunte president Steven Rook said Friday. “We only deal with licensed breeders, regulated and inspected by the USDA, and we require that they follow a strict regime. Everything is designed and managed for the health of the puppy.”

Lawyers have asked a judge to certify the case as a class action, meaning others could join it and share any monetary award.

Stephanie Booth, of Flagstaff, Ariz., got her bloodhound Tucker from a Petland store in 2007. She said she thought a lump on his head came from roughhousing with another puppy, but Tucker was diagnosed a few months later with a brain tumor and had to be put to sleep.

Booth, 18, said documents she got from Petland included the dog’s family tree and the breeder’s name and said he was fine. She said her mother researched the breeder and found information suggesting it might be a puppy mill that had faced legal problems.

“I just want people to become aware of the situation with puppy mills and what the dogs go through,” said Booth, who is a plaintiff in the federal suit against Petland.

Petland, which has 131 U.S. stores, has said it is outraged and disappointed by what it calls false accusations and insists it does everything possible to provide customers with healthy, happy and well-socialized pets. The company has not been charged with any crimes.

Petland says it has many satisfied customers like Aric Shock, of Kettering, Ohio, who said his French Bulldog puppy Dozer has been a great pet, and Sandy Voelker, of Fairfield in suburban Cincinnati.

“We’ve had no issues with her other than just being a puppy,” Voelker, 32, said of her English Bulldog, Rosie.

Lewis, who lives in San Diego, said Petland guaranteed her puppy Cash’s health. Even so, she said she found he had ringworm when she bought him. And when she complained about the biting, a store employee told her that Akita’s are sometimes prone to aggressiveness.

“I will never buy another dog from a pet store,” said Lewis, 37, who is not a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

Petland warranties cover congenital and hereditary disorders for up to a year after purchase, and at least two licensed veterinarians examine each puppy before it’s sold, said Petland spokeswoman Elizabeth Kunzelman.

“If a pet develops an issue at some point in their lives, this does not in any way indicate that the puppy came from a substandard breeder,” Kunzelman said.

The Humane Society and other animal welfare groups want to outlaw puppy mills. They say legislation is pending in 27 different states to restrict puppy mills and protect consumers who buy puppies that are later diagnosed with health or genetic defects.

Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Virginia have already enacted laws cracking down on puppy mills. A bill setting standards and licensing requirements for large-scale breeders is expected to be introduced this month in Ohio.

An Ohio veterinarian said animals bred in the small, often filthy cages at puppy mills frequently develop behavioral and physical problems.

“Breeders use puppy mills to save money and maximize profits, spending little money on food, shelter and veterinary care,” said veterinarian Matthew Heller, of the All about PetCare clinic in Middletown, about 30 miles north of Cincinnati. “They should be abolished.”

Clean Slate Animals Relocated, KY March 3, 2009

Source: The Adair Progress, March 3, 2009

The cats and dogs rescued from Clean Slate Animal Rescue have been completely relocated from the Green River Animal Shelter to a temporary shelter in Bowling Green.

The remaining 96 of the 240 dogs and 31 cats that were rescued from the Clean Slate Animal Rescue center in Sparksville on Feb. 20th are now under the care of The Humane Society of the United States in a temporary shelter in Bowling Green.

The National Disaster Animal Response Team of the HSUS arrived yesterday with a fully equipped kennel tractor-trailer to transport the animals to the temporary shelter located at the fairgrounds in Bowling Green.

The Bowling Green-Warren County Humane Society had already taken several of the animals last week and was waiting on the NDART to finish work at a puppy mill in North Carolina as well as a flood evacuation in Washington.

Senior Director of the HSUS Scotlund Haisley stated, “The NDART was established to assist in emergency situations like this as well as natural disasters to ensure the safety and welfare of the animals.”
After the animals arrive at the temporary shelter they will be treated for their current health issues including mange and respiratory disease, at which time they will be sent to shelters for adoption.
According to Haisley, in addition to the HSUS workers and the Kentucky Humane Society, dozens of volunteers came from as far away as California to help with the rescue of the Clean Slate animals.
“Rescues like this and puppy mills are two of the biggest problems we face,” said Haisley.

Clean Slate owner 50-year old David Howery was arrested and charged with 295 counts of animal cruelty and was released on a $1,500 cash bond after plead not guilty to the charges in district court on Monday, Feb. 24th and agreed to release the animals to the Green River Animal Shelter.

According to HSUS State Director for Kentucky Pam Rogers the case involving Clean Slate was a classic case of animal hoarding.

“The two biggest problems with animal cruelty we face in the state as well as national are hoarders and puppy mills and from what I have been told about the situation at Clean Slate, he was a classic hoarder,” said Rogers.

According to the HSUS fact sheet on animal hoarding, an animal hoarder is a person who amasses more animals than they can properly care for and fail to recognize or refuse to aknowledge when the animals become victims of gross neglect.

In most cases after the animals are removed, the burden of caring for the animals while they are in the shelters will fall back on taxpayers.

“Local government must enact local legislation that addresses some of the issues that deal with hoarders and puppy mills to more effectively address the problem and save the taxpayers money,” commented Rogers.

According to Rogers in many cases the person arrested for animal cruelty does not release control of the animals and there is not much that can be done to help prevent these types of events from happening.
Rogers noted that there is currently legislation at the state level that is awaiting approval to help combat animal hoarding in the state of Kentucky.

House Bill 428 in the Kentucky Legislature addresses the issue of the bonding of animals by specifying the responsibility for care of the animals that are seized in a case of animal cruelty.

The bill will allow judges to impose a cash bond for the care of the animals in addition to a criminal bond, which will force the offender to assume the financial responsibility for the seized animals while they are in the care of the shelters.

However if the owner of the seized animals releases control of the animals they will not be responsible for the cost incurred while under the care of the shelter.

House Bill 137 establishes shelter and shade requirements for animals by limiting the amount of animals and how they are boarded.

Both H.B. 428 and 137 will establish licensing, inspection and strict regulation of both private and public shelters.

To help prevent the amount of cases animal hoarding Rogers stated, “People need to be careful about where they send animals and if they have not been to the facility recently to check the conditions they do not need to send their animals there.”

150 Pit Bulls Euthanized, New Policy Follows, NY March 3, 2009

Source: Zootoo.com, Feb 28, 2009

150 Pit Bulls euthanized, new policy follows: Seized from a fighting ring in December, the dogs were recently put down, resulting in a firestorm of debates. Now the HSUS proposes such dogs to be evaluated individually — a standard that other welfare groups have long lobbied.

NEW YORK — After supporting a court decision to euthanize nearly 150 Pit Bulls involved in a fighting ring, the Humane Society of the United States has issued a new policy, calling for all seized fighting dogs to be examined as individuals, and not as a collective lot.

Wilkes County Animal Control, in Wilkesboro, N.C., destroyed 146 Pit Bulls, including 19 puppies, on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the order of Superior Court Judge Ed Wilson Jr., who ruled the day before that the dogs should be killed.

The dogs were seized from a puppy mill operation run by Ed Faron, 61, owner of Wildside Kennels, on Dec. 10, 2008; the HSUS collaborated with local authorities on the three year investigation leading up to the case.

Faron has since pleaded guilty to 14 felony counts of dogfighting, and was sentenced to eight- to 10-months in prison last week.

Cutting against the recommendations of other animal welfare organizations and Pit Bull rescue groups, the HSUS publicly endorsed the court’s decision to euthanize the dogs, citing the canines’ breeding history and irrevocable nature.

In a press release issued last week, the HSUS said it offered to pay for “an additional professional evaluator to assess the dogs,” but that the county did not “take us up on that offer.”

“Without an affirmative professional evaluation to indicate that the dogs could be safely placed in a new setting, we could not recommend the adoption of these dogs who had been bred for some generations for their instinct to kill,” the release continues.

Other players in the animal welfare community, however, saw the HSUS’ move as disservice to the dogs, which they say should have been evaluated on an individual basis.

“We offered to spay and neuter any of the animals that would have been eligible for adoption and to network the animals through our constituency of animal welfare organizations,” said Francis Battista, a founder of Best Friends Animal Society, the nation’s largest animal sanctuary.

“Had the Humane Society been a strong advocate for individual analysis, rather than a categorical dismissal, there might have been a different outcome to this case.”

According to The Winston Salem Journal, the judge ruled based off North Carolina’s classification of all dogs involved in dog-fighting operations as dangerous; a county ordinance requires all “dangerous” dogs to be destroyed.

Even the puppies born following the ring bust exhibited signs of aggression, according to Wilkes Animal Control Director Junior Simmons.

“They’re not just fighting,” Simmons reportedly said of the puppies. “They’re starting to draw blood.”

Yet Best Friends, as well as other welfare and rescue organizations, say this case has similarities to that of Michael Vick, whose dog fighting ring was busted in 2006. Then, the HSUS recommended all of the Atlanta Falcons’ 48 Pit Bulls be put down for similar reasons.

In the end, a federal court carried out an evaluation of Vick’s dogs; only one deemed extremely aggressive was euthanized, in the end.

“A number of aggressive dogs” were admitted to various sanctuaries, including Best Friends, in Kanab, Utah, says Pamela Reid, vice president of the ASPCA’s Animal Behavior Department.

There, Battista says, the troubled dogs continue to recover and establish themselves as household pets, not bait.

How to Right a Wrong

Reid, a veterinarian, helped conduct evaluations of the Vick dogs two years ago; the animals’ conduct varied, she says, noting the only consistency was their uniform disinterest in playing tug-of-war.

Some appeared fearful of humans, others aggressive toward other dogs; the evaluation process was “complicated,” she says, and remains ongoing.

“It’s a monitoring situation,” Reid said. “We don’t know how they are going to respond to rehabilitative efforts until we try.”

While the ASPCA supports the notion that all fighting dogs should be evaluated individually, Reid says that the initial clearance will not automatically grant the rescued dogs a new shot at life.

“What we want to do and what is actually viable are two different things,” Reid said. “People want these dogs to be saved, but they have to realize that shelters need money to do that, to bring in the professional staff, and you need a place for the dogs to go. Not every facility is set up to provide that kind of service.”

When former fighting dogs find access to such facilities, however, they are sometimes able to thrive, says Marthina McClay, organizer of Our Pack, a Pit Bull rescue, education and training organization in Los Gatos, Calif.

Our Pack is home to several of Vick’s canines, including Leo, who now performs services as a therapy dog.

The organization believes Leo’s success is not an anomaly.

“The Vick case is not a fluke,” McClay said. “Gosh, our ‘bust dogs’ are the best dogs we have had. There is temperament and there is training. When they come to us, we are setting up an environment so that temperament can flourish.

“I understand that some dogs can be damaged from abuse cases, there is no question about that. We are asking that we just look first. Just look and evaluate the dogs as individuals.”

Failing to do so, Battista says, only perpetuates false impressions and stereotypes of the breed.

“While everybody else is out here trying to restore the breed … change the way that they are related to in a lot of communities, we feel the position by the Humane Society, the alleged largest animal welfare organization in the country, tars the whole breed and doesn’t help or support the work that is being done,” Battista said.

Despite repeated attempts, an HSUS representative was not available for comment as of press time.

Yet the organization defended its commitment to eradicating dogfighting in its release, saying, “We’ve probably invested more in combating dogfighting than all other humane groups combined, and to great effect.”

It also echoed Reid’s point that there are “very few good options” for game-bred dogs.

“There are no sanctuaries that exist for the thousands of game-bred dogs confiscated each year, and as a nation, there are hundreds of thousands of Pit Bulls awaiting adoptions in shelters every year,” the release says.

The HSUS expressed hope that the crux of this event — the breakup of Faron’s fighting ring and his subsequent arrest — not be muddled in welfare organizations’ disagreements.

“We understand your concern about the judge’s order to euthanize the dogs, and it is always a tragic outcome when healthy animals meet such a fate,” the release says. “But the blame lies with Mr. Faron, and not with The Humane Society of the United States … Had it not been for our investigation, most of his dogs would have suffered immensely in a fighting pit in the weeks and months ahead.”

Looking Forward

The HSUS and the Best Friends’ coalition may soon again meet on common ground, given the HSUS’ recently announced interim policy, which will call for all fighting dogs to be evaluated on a one-by-one basis.

Wayne Pacelle, CEO and president of HSUS, has called for a meeting of “major stakeholders” in April to discuss the aftermath of dogfighting busts. The meeting — and interim policy — were reportedly both in the works prior to the 147 dogs’ destruction.

“We expect government, corporations, and individuals to constantly re-evaluate how they deal with animal issues. Likewise, we regularly review our own policies and procedures here at HSUS, and we think it is important to talk with professional colleagues in the movement to examine issues related to the disposition of fighting dogs,” Pacelle said in another HSUS release, announced on Feb. 23.

“I am pleased to discuss these issues with personnel from Best Friends and other organizations interested in the welfare of Pit Bulls.”

The altered policy is long overdue, but a welcomed change nonetheless, Battista says.

“This case was a categorizing event,” he said. “It was a loss to everybody that these animals weren’t given the chance to be evaluated, but in the larger picture, it has started a lot of discussion and concern about the policy the Humane Society had in place.”

McClay says she, too, is now looking toward the future, and not on the rift this case has caused between the HSUS and other organizations.

“This is a step in the right direction,” she said. “I see that this is going to change, I am hopeful it will actually change, and I am happy to be a part of helping with this.”

No additional details on the April meeting have been released, but the HSUS did say the event will take place in Las Vegas.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Dogs Allowed: Creature Comforts at the Workplace February 26, 2009

Source: News10 ABC, by Staff Writers, Feb 25, 2009

Dog-friendly policies that allow employees to bring well-behaved pets to work are popping up in many offices and, by all accounts, the downsides are minimal.

“We always say around here that dogs have never broken anything. People have, but dogs, never,” says Jeanine Falcon of Replacements Ltd., the Greensboro, N.C., company that warehouses more than 13 million pieces of china, crystal and silver and ships out thousands of items every day.

“It’s part of our culture here to have pets,” says Falcon, adding that most days there are 20 to 30 leashed or crated or behind-baby-gates dogs in the building, and even the occasional cat or rabbit.

A recent survey by the American Pet Products Association Manufacturers found that 20 percent of companies now have pet-friendly policies (though experts believe most are smallish operations), and the Humane Society of the United States just released Dogs at Work: A Practical Guide to Creating Dog-Friendly Workplaces by California dog trainer Liz Palika and HSUS’ Jennifer Fearing, who ushered in HSUS’ dog-welcoming policy two years ago.

“We’re not proselytizing that the whole world should have dog-friendly policies,” says Fearing, but HSUS is easing the way for interested firms. Many companies inclined toward the idea have abandoned it when they realized how long it would take to establish whether there’s sufficient interest and how to develop policies and sanctions. “We’ve done all that work,” Fearing says, “removed the obstacles, created all the discussion points and presented possible forms so now they can have the discussions about whether it’s an idea that is right for their organization.”

Supporters say pets in the workplace reduce stress among owners who worry about home-alone dogs, are a calming presence for even the non-owners and help employees form relationships. And in these times of disappearing benefits, pet-friendly policies are a free perk. Companies with such policies range from edgy Newport Beach, Calif., cosmetics company Urban Decay to Healthwise, the Boise-based non-profit health information provider. Most allow only dogs, but some, like Replacements, allow all kinds of pets.

Not every dog has its workday

Many imagine that once the gates come down, offices will be overrun with creatures, but that hasn’t happened at the dozens of companies Fearing and Palika spoke with. “Some owners realize their dogs aren’t right for this sort of thing or they themselves aren’t right,” Palika says.

At HSUS, about 50 owners bring their dogs to their worksites every day. The number of times there has been a significant issue?

“Zero,” says Fearing, though there have been a couple of times that owners have been called in and reminded of some of the rules. The success, she believes, lies in the fact that the policy is “a privilege, not a guarantee. No one wants to risk losing it,” and “de-facto self-policing” operates at a high level.

Still, not all dogs are great candidates as workmates, including those that have shown aggression to people or other animals; dogs that are territorial, hyperactive or vocal, and dogs that are very shy or fearful. They must have decent manners, be house-trained and well-groomed, and they must not be “food thieves … have constant flatulence, snore loudly or be excessive droolers,” says Palika. “The owner may not be bothered by any of this, but co-workers probably would be.”

Most dogs need more training

Owners must be honest in appraising their pets, but many can’t or won’t acknowledge the realities of personality characteristics or behaviors that would make the animals an annoyance or distraction at work.

Palika estimates that only about one out of 50 or 75 dogs is already a perfect candidate for work detail. “The vast majority … need good, basic obedience training and better social skills,” she says. About half of those, with training, can become office-appropriate.

And if the owners don’t exactly get it?

“That’s where the rules come in,” Fearing says. Many companies form pet committees that can order inappropriate dogs off the premises; most have two- or three-strikes rules for minor infractions and a one-strike rule for major things such as aggression. Most have a probationary period for newcomers.

“No organization should go into this without being willing to enforce rules,” Fearing says. But for those that have take talked through the details and taken the pet-friendly leap, “the payoffs are huge.”

Video Game Teaches about Rescuing Animals February 26, 2009

Source: Zootoo.com, by Lee Gordon

The Humane Society of the United States has developed a video game which teaches children how to care for rescued animals. (Image Provided by HSUS)

Kayley is just a first grader, but with the help of a new video game, she’s learning how to provide veterinary care to rescued animals. Developed by the Humane Society of the United States, the virtual game gives millions of pet-owning children, globally, a chance to learn about pets in a new, virtual way.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Kayley Williams loves her dog Molly. Her parents Gene and Stacie Williams count on her to take care of the family pet. Through the years, Kayley has learned the value of raising a dog. But now, she’s taking it to a new, virtual, level.

“When I play with them, I get to throw them Frisbees,” said Kaylee of a new video game called Pet Pals: New Leash on Life.

To spread awareness about the importance of adoption and animal rescue, the Humane Society of the United States developed the game.

It teaches kids to work towards a better world for animals around the globe and allows kids like Kayley to learn how to take care of a virtual animal under the premise of “if you show the animal love, they’ll show it right back to you.”

“The game has given her more of an appreciation for the problems animals have and the struggles they have to go through,” said Kayley’s father.

The game also allows children to play the role of veterinarian — diagnosing, treating, caring for, and eventually adopting 15 different types of animals including cats, dogs, parrots, and chinchillas using more than 40 different kinds of medical tools.

“The goal of the game is to nurse back to health the animals that are admitted to the facility and place them in loving, forever homes,” said Jennifer Hobgood of the Humane Society of the United States.

The animals give feedback, in their own voices, on how they feel and what they need.

“Sometimes I give them shots and medicine,” said Kayley in response to the role she plays as the animals’ caretaker.

Kayley spends hours preparing her animal for adoption by training, grooming, petting and playing with them until they are ready to be fostered. Only when Kayley does a good job is she given more responsibilities with more difficult tasks to handle.

“It’s a neat thing, you get to treat them,” said Gene Williams. “You get to interact with them and play with them. Any kid who has a computer, it’s great for them.”

The Humane Society hopes that parents do their part to educate children on how to properly treat animals and with games like Pet Pals-A New Leash on Life, kids like Kayley learn at a young age just how precious her furry friends can be.

“It’s a great educational tool in teaching about animal rescue and the importance of adoption,” said Hobgood. “Children can learn about medical tools and they can learn about animal shelter organizations and the animals that find refuge in these facilities.

“And it increases their compassion for animals and may encourage children to become more active to volunteer for organizations in their local area.”

Kayley is just one of millions of kids around the world with a family pet. She’s always done her part to help Molly, and now, she has a better understanding of what it takes to care for her dog — all thanks to a video game that gives her dog a new leash on life.

For more information on the video game, visit HSUS.org

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Judge: 300 dogs won’t be returned to NC kennel February 12, 2009

Source: NewsObserver.com, By MARLON A. WALKER – Associated Press Writer, Feb 10, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. — Nearly 300 dogs seized from an eastern North Carolina business last week will be placed in new homes, a Humane Society of the United States spokeswoman said Tuesday.

A Wayne County judge on Tuesday signed a ruling signing over 283 dogs seized Friday from Thornton Kennels in southern Wayne County. The owner of the business, Virginia Thornton, has been accused of running what authorities say appeared to be a puppy mill.

She surrendered the animals to Wayne County authorities, who turned them over to the Humane Society officials.

Scotlund Haisley, senior director of emergency services at the Humane Society of the United States, said Tuesday’s ruling was a victory for the dogs, but he wanted to see more done to the owner.

“The battle is far from over. The HSUS will stop at nothing until criminal charges are filed against the owner of these kennels and she’s no longer allowed to operate a puppy mill – and until there are stronger laws in North Carolina protecting dogs in puppy mills.”

County officials filed an injunction Thursday against Thornton, claiming she was “willfully and intentionally” depriving the dogs of suitable living conditions. The animals had been housed in unventilated barns and outhouses. Many were older dogs who appeared to have been living in cages for years.

A message left for Thornton was not immediately returned Tuesday.

Humane Society of the United States spokeswoman Jordan Crump said the 283 dogs – mostly Shih-Tzus, Chihuahuas and Lhasa apsos – have now been treated for infections and cuts that had gone untreated. Two of the puppies died the day of the raid. The rest have responded well to the treatment.

Crump said representatives from their “Stop Puppy Mills” group in North Carolina have found temporary homes for all the animals. In a few weeks, she said, they should all be ready to be adopted.

Rescued: 300 small breed dogs seized from alleged puppy mill, NC February 9, 2009

Source: Goldsboro News, Feb 6, 2009

Clad in overalls and wearing masks to hide the stench of ammonia, animal rescue workers early this morning began removing the first of some 300 adult dogs and puppies from what is being called a “puppy mill.”

A steady procession of local animal control workers and workers from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) brought the animals from sheds at Thornton Kennel, 180 Westbrook Church Road just miles from the Wayne-Sampson County line.

The animals were taken after the county filed a civil injunction late Thursday afternoon against Virginia Thornton alleging she was “willfully and intentionally” depriving the animals of a proper living environment.

The operation, that was initiated by Wayne County Animal Control Director Justin Scally, is being called the largest ever in the state. It culminates a year-long investigation.

The dogs, some with matted fur and swollen eyes, were shivering as they were brought out to be checked by veterinarians, photographed and have identity bands placed on them before being loaded into a large trailer.

In the yard, family members milled around and instructed deputies not to allow the media onto their property. The family did not respond to a request for comment.

The animals were located in several sheds, some near the house and others across the road.

The first load of about 100 animals was taken to a makeshift shelter at the Wayne Regional Fair-grounds for further examination.

When they arrived, volunteers and veterinarians were waiting.

They had been since 5 a.m. — building cages and unloading food and medical supplies despite the bitter cold.

But as soon as that truck pulled in, the squeaks, barks and yelps drew them to the animals.

It was 9:45 when the first was walked into the home it will know for the remainder of the weekend.

A volunteer stepped off the truck holding a curly-haired mutt with a swollen eye and mud covering its white coat.

It was shivering.

But each time the woman’s hand a ran down its back, his tail wagged — as much as it could.

Another volunteer was close behind, holding a pair of Chihuahuas shaking uncontrollably.

“It’s pretty sad,” said Amanda Arrington, president of the state chapter of the HSUS, as the volunteer passed by.

But the scene, she added, was far worse.

Wayne Sheriff’s deputies and animals control officers arrived there about 6:30 a.m. and were expected to be there for most of the day.

“Most of the animals are breeding females,” said Jordan Crump, HSUS emergency services public information officer. “Most were females. She (Ms. Thornton) was trying to get the most out them.”

In some cases, the animals were so old they produced single puppies and small litters, she said.

The animals, she said, were confined in small dirty wire cages — some several to a cage — in buildings lacking proper heat and ventilation.

The animals did have food and water.

Ms. Crump said the lack of ventilation had created such strong ammonia smell that in some cases caused the animals’ eyes to swell shut. Ammonia fumes that strong can also cause skin infections, she added.

In some cases the animals have been in the cages for up to eight years, she said.

Most were small breed animals — poodles, Pomeranians, Lhasa Apso, Shih-Tzus and Chihuahuas.

Assisting the county’s Animal Control Department were representatives from the Humane Society, PetSmart Charities and United Animal Nations. The workers came from Florida, the Midwest and HSUS headquarters in Washington, D.C.

A hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Wayne County courthouse to determine whether a permanent injunction will be ordered and whether Ms. Thornton should pay for the cost of care for the animals while they are in county custody.

The petition for the injunction includes an affidavit from veterinarian Kelli Ferris, assistant clinical professor at N.C. State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Scally submitted photos and video taken at the kennel for Dr. Ferris to review.

“The photos and video provided lead me to believe that many animals are being subject to animal cruelty in this facility,” Dr. Ferris wrote. “Puppy mills are dog production units where dogs are housed for years in cramped conditions with no environmental enrichment or opportunities for normal exercise.”

The animals will remain in the custody of Wayne County Animal Control pending final custody decisions.

Should Ms. Thornton surrender the animals or be ordered to do so by the courts, HSUS will work with animal control as well as rescue groups in other states to rehabilitate and find homes for the dogs.

Many of the animals might be taken back to the Washington, D.C., area, Ms. Crump said.

The animals mostly were being sold over the Internet, she added. A sign in front of the house lists a Web site www.thorntonkennels.com, advertising “Toy and Designer breeds.”

Ms. Crump said Ms. Thornton would not allow people to visit the kennel and met potential customers at other locations.

That, she said, should be a “tip-off” to people that something is amiss.

People can unknowingly support “this horrible industry” by buying over the Internet or not checking a kennel.

“The only way to stop this is through legislation,” she said.

She urged people interested in adopting an animal to visit an animal shelter

Scally said he asked for the assistance of HSUS when he realized how many animals were at the kennel.

“We realized we did not have the resources to handle all of these animals by ourselves,” Scally said. “I can finally rest easy knowing that these animals are no longer living in constant confinement.”

County Commissioner Steve Keen, in whose district the kennel is located, rode to the scene with animal control officers.

Keen said some people had questioned the expense the county went to when it built its new animal center. These animals, he said, underscored how important the shelter is.

“But this is so overwhelming,” he said.

“These dogs have may need extensive rehabilitation, but they are already beginning to warm up to their temporary caretakers. I believe they are on their way to leading new lives as loving family pets,” added Janell Matthies, UAN emergency services manager.

Residents of North Carolina interested in taking action for animals can sign up for the upcoming Humane Lobby Day, which The HSUS will host on Feb. 12 in Raleigh. Local advocates will gather at the Capitol to lobby for animal welfare legislation – including the puppy mill bill

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization — backed by 11 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, the HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs.

For more information visit www.humanesociety.org.

None of the dogs seized this morning were in critical condition.

Still, they will be housed at the fairgrounds for the next several days, officials said — receiving treatment and love.

“Just the human touch, they don’t even experience that,” Mrs. Arrington said. “Their feet probably haven’t touched the ground in years. But when you pick them up, you can tell they know it’s going to be OK.”

Rep introduces bill to strengthen puppy mill laws, CO January 27, 2009

Source: YourHub.com, Contributed by: State Rep Beth McCann on 1/26/2009

Legislation will strengthen protections for dogs at commercial mass breeding operations known as puppy mills

State Representative Beth McCann (D-Denver) today introduced a bill to strengthen puppy mill regulations in Colorado. With a saved dog named Bingo by her side, Rep. McCann discussed how the bill will limit the number of breeding dogs allowed at a facility to help prevent the worst abuses at puppy mills.

“I am pleased to introduce legislation that seeks to ensure that dogs that are kept for breeding in Colorado are treated in a safe and humane manner,” said Rep. McCann. “Colorado is not a state that will tolerate abuse of animals, particularly dogs and puppies. These are small steps toward ensuring a decent life for these dogs who are kept for breeding, and it should also send a message to those outside of Colorado that we do not welcome those who mistreat their animals.”

Puppy mills are commercial breeding facilities where dogs often live in deplorable, overcrowded conditions without any exercise, socialization, or human interaction. These puppies are mass produced for sale in pet stores, over the Internet and directly to consumers.

Currently, Colorado has a statewide law that regulates dog breeders, but it doesn’t always prevent mistreatment of the dogs. This bill will assist the Department of Agriculture in enforcing the requirements of humane treatment. McCann’s bill will prevent dog breeding operations from maintaining more than 25 adult breeding dogs. Hobby breeders with 25 or less adult breeding dogs would not be affected by the new law. The legislation will enable investigators to effectively and efficiently deal with complaints about dogs living in squalid conditions and receiving inadequate care. Other states, including Louisiana and Virginia, have already passed similar legislation limiting the number of dogs in breeding facilities.

Additionally, the legislation will allow Department of Agriculture inspectors to inspect facilities at any time upon consent or with a search warrant, and it will require that a license be revoked if a breeder is convicted of animal cruelty. It also mandates that a licensed veterinarian certify annually that a dog is healthy before it may be bred. The bill is supported by The Humane Society of the United States and The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

“Puppy mills can range in size from a dozen dogs to thousands of dogs,” said Holly Tarry, The HSUS’ Colorado state director. “This legislation does not target responsible breeders who treat dogs like members of the family, but will crack down on puppy mills where man’s best friend is treated like a cash crop.”

Puppy mills contribute to pet overpopulation. Investigations have shown repeatedly that there are inhumane puppy mill operations in many states, yet the resources of local agencies are often inadequate to address the scope of the problem. In addition, The Humane Society of the United States estimates that U.S. animal shelters care for between 6 million to 8 million dogs and cats every year of whom approximately half are euthanized. The International City/County Management Association Animal Control Management Guide suggests that cities and counties budget between $4 to $7 per capita for animal control programs. The impact of pet overpopulation is a humane crisis as well as a financial one.

Petland, HSUS continue battle, Company demands proof of society’s puppy-mill claims January 22, 2009

Source: Chillicothe Gazette, Jan 18, 2009

The latest public salvo between Chillicothe-based Petland Inc. and The Humane Society of the United States will come in the form of an open letter to be posted Monday on Petland’s Web site.

In the letter, the company once again will ask for specific documentation HSUS used as the basis for accusations Petland sells puppies obtained from substandard breeders.

The letter claims HSUS, which is not affiliated with local Humane Society operations or shelters, has made accusations against Petland without any specific documentation to support the claims. In November, HSUS posted a report containing the accusations on its Web site stating an eight-month investigation of Petland revealed that, after tracking the sources of nearly 17,000 puppies sold by breeders to Petland stores, several came from puppy mill breeders.

Puppy mills are breeders that raise the animals in large numbers and in substandard conditions for sale. Dogs coming from them are prone to health problems, genetic defects and some behavioral issues.

Petland officials Friday once again said the charges are baseless. The fact HSUS cannot provide any documentation linking pets sold at Petland to puppy mill breeders and the fact HSUS, over a 10-month period, never has taken its alleged findings to proper authorities such as the USDA, indicates no wrongdoing has occurred, the company maintains.

“We are selling happy and healthy pets,” said Elizabeth Kunzelman, director of marketing and communication for Petland. “If we weren’t, you’d know it.”

In the open letter, Petland asks HSUS why requested documentation has not been provided at the company’s request so it could look into allegations against specific stores.

“For 41 years, Petland has continued its stand against substandard breeders,” the letter reads. “As such, Petland has repeatedly over the last two months asked the Humane Society of the United States to provide information that will lead to the relief of numerous distressed animals allegedly identified by your organization in your supposed report. Specifically, we are asking for the detailed documentation of the 17,000 puppies sold in 21 stores over the eight-month period referenced in your report.

“If there was an eight-month investigation and the last two months of unfulfilled requests for information are included, then this is a period spanning 10 months where animals were suffering and the HSUS did nothing. The HSUS has not provided this specific information to Petland or the USDA.”

Also in the letter, Petland calls the report “baseless slander,” says many of the USDA reports used to compile it are from as far back as 2005 and 2006 and involve dealers that are on Petland’s “Do Not Buy” list, and indicates videos used in the “slanderous attack upon our good name” shows dogs in cages with no connection to the company.

“If information exists, for the welfare of the supposedly identified animals, please supply that information immediately to the proper authorities and to Petland so we may provide assistance,” the letter reads. “Only with this specific information may assistance be rendered to the animals.”

The open letter to be posted online follows an exchange of letters between the two entities.

The first, from Stephanie Shain, director of HSUS’ Stop Puppy Mills Campaign, is dated Jan. 14 and indicates a packet of information sent to Petland that included a few of the USDA reports used in the accusations – as well as the online report itself – were adequate proof.

“We believe The HSUS has presented Petland Inc. with ample evidence, via footage available on our Web site, proving that many of the breeders and brokers supplying puppies to Petland stores are puppy mills …,” the letter states. “Before we provide you with additional records, please respond to the first records we revealed in November.”

The HSUS letter also invites Petland Vice President Joe Watson to meet with HSUS to review footage of breeders and compare it with company inspection records of those breeders.

In response, a Jan. 16 letter from Watson says the only records provided were USDA inspection reports with no connection to Petland, that the video on HSUS’ Web site under “Petland Investigation” actually has nothing to do with Petland and that Petland has agreed to meet with HSUS after the company receives the “stacks of information” pertaining to the 17,000 puppies that are the focus of the dispute.

“Stephanie, at Petland, the health and welfare of all pets are our No. 1 concern and we stand by your efforts to expose and shut down substandard facilities,” Watson said. “But as it relates to your recent efforts with your ‘Petland Investigation,’ you are truly misguided and Petland won’t be intimidated by the rhetoric contained in your Jan. 14 letter.

“Rather, we are taking action to obtain every piece of information related to the 17,000 puppies sold in the 21 Petland stores over the eight-month investigation.”

Petland says franchise owners are prepared to operate a franchise store by going through a four- to six-week training regimen that includes management training and hands-on experience in every aspect of store operations as a regular employee of another Petland store. They also are provided “the tools to do the right thing” in their operations, including screening breeders that will be supplying their store.

Breeders interested in becoming a supplier must fill out a form, share veterinarian reports and prove USDA licensing. Store personnel also meet extensively with breeders as a means of developing a relationship, and breeders known to be substandard are placed on a “do not buy” list for store franchisees to avoid, company officials said.

NAFA Working To Stop Dog Fighting In Region 8, AK November 21, 2008

Source; KAIT8 ABC, by Lauren Payne, Nov 21, 2008

The images are disturbing. Dogs– man’s best friends– forced to fight each other for man’s pleasure, and some say it’s happening right here in Region Eight. Sickened by the sight of dogs tearing each other apart, one Northeast Arkansas group is fighting back.

“The smell is sickening, the sounds are sickening. The looks of excitement on the people’s faces when they watch the dogs try to tear each other apart is perhaps the most haunting thing I can tell you that I will ever remember,” said Wannda Turner.

It’s highly secretive, cruel and illegal….and Wannda Turner with Northeast Arkansans’ for Animals says it’s going on in Northeast Arkansas.

Wannda and other NAFA officials are working to create a task force to help investigate and ultimately prosecute those taking part in what Wannda calls a nauseating crime. A crime, Turner says, that’s hard to actually catch people doing.

“These fights can be set up, fought and taken apart in the space of two hours. They move constantly,” said Turner.

Wannda says due to their stature and loyal personalities, pit bulls are usually a dog fighter’s animal of choice….often giving this particular breed a bad wrap.

“You know, they’re a great, sweet family pet.  They can also be a killing dog. It’s not the dogs, it’s the people that do it with the dogs that we’re after.

Turner says dog fighting is something that goes on all year long.  It’s during cooler months that they move indoors, perhaps making it easier for nearby neighbors to see or hear something going on.

“If people in your neighborhood are bringing in dogs and you notice a lot of growling and howling going on, that’s an indication that something is not all it’s supposed to be.

If you have information, you can contact NAFA at 932-1955, or 919-2947.

NAFA and the Humane Society of the United States are offering reward money for the arrest and conviction of those participating in dog fighting rings.

There are some signs to look for if you think there may be dog fighting going on including tires suspended from trees to provide jaw strengthening activities.

*Dog treadmills are created to build endurance.

*A “cat or jenny mill” which confines a cat, rabbbit or small animal and encourages the dog to “chase the present”.  As a reward, the dog gets to capture and kill the animal inside.

*Ownership of several adult dogs that are confined by thick chains with or without weights on their collars.