Puppy Mill Rescue Dogs Arrive in DC

83 dogs, 6 cats rescued from Arkansas puppy mill
Friday, 09 Oct 2009
Bob Barnard
By BOB BARNARD/myfoxdc

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Nearly 100 dogs were rescued from an alleged puppy mill in Arkansas this week, and now they're in Washington. Rescuers called it one of the worst cases they've ever seen.

They spent 18 hours on the road to get here. The animals were brought to the District in a big rig. Eighty-three dogs and six cats were taken from a property in Lamar, Arkansas, which is locaed northwest of Little Rock.

"Like any puppy mill, this is the worst that humanity can do to animals-- these animals were in horrible conditions," said Dr. Gary Weitzman of the Washington Animal Rescue League . "Maybe the worst we've seen and we do a lot of puppy mill rescues."

In fact, it's the worst of 15 puppy mill cases the Humane Society of the U.S. says it has investigated this year.

"We've rescued over 4,000 dogs from these hell holes," said Scotlund Haisley of the Humane Society of the U.S.

The Humane Society and Arkansas authorities raided the alleged puppy mill three days ago.

"These dogs have been laying in their own feces and urine their entire lives and as you can seem, it's turning into an acid and burning their coat," said Haisley.

The animals were in chicken crates that were stacked on top of each other. Rescuers say they had no veterinary car, no grooming, and of they didn't get food or water.

One of the dogs became stuck in her home, and she couldn't move. In fact, the matting from her coat grew on the cage and she had to be cut out. Another dog needed immediate medical care because he was dehydrated and had a very low temperature.

"It's hard to even fathom that people can act like this to animals or anything," said Haisley. "And there are lots of puppy mills. We're lucky there have been a lot of rescues over the last two years."

Haisley says there are about 15,000 puppy mills in this country, producing roughly four million dogs a year.

"This is an enormous industry and it's nothing short of barbaric and horrific," said Haisley.

Weitzman says most of these animals should be available for adoption later this month.

"Every animal that comes here is going to get into a home," Weitzman told FOX 5. "We'll do everything that we can to make sure that it's living the life that it's always deserved."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture inspects puppy mills, but only if they're selling to pet stores. Puppy mills are legal as long as the animals are being treated humanely.

Charges are expected to be filed in the case.

On the net: Washington Animal Rescue League

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/100909_puppy_mill_rescue_dogs_arrive_in_dc

(Submitted by Sally Tully-Figueroa)