March 11, 2008

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wisc. – Following a tip, Wisconsin authorities raided a residence to find 84 dogs being kenneled in Dexter last Thursday.

While South Wood County Humane Society was left scurrying to find temporary homes for the mostly toy-breed dogs, this week the society is sorting through adoption applications.

It’s a hopeful turn around to what had been an overwhelming scenario, which started with an anonymous caller who reported there were dead animals, and a lack of wood and water at a puppy mill at 4:35 p.m. last Wednesday.

SWCHS responded the next day to find a residence kenneling 84 dogs, 75 of which were small toy breeds. All the dogs were kept two or three to a kennel in a room that was 20 feet by 20 feet, reported Phil Hartley, executive director of the shelter.

Dozens of the recovered dogs were injured or diseased, but only a few were suffering from life-threatening conditions, said Kim Krause, a veterinarian from the local Animal Medical and Surgical Clinic.

“They’re unkempt; they haven’t had the basic necessities of haircuts, bathing and nail trimming,” Krause said. “As far as we can tell, most are in fairly good body shape. The main thing we are seeing is dental disease and problems with eyes and ears.”

Since the rescue, as a result of a serious mange condition, one dog has been euthanized. But despite some of the dogs suffering from infections, injured limbs and other skin diseases, Hartley believes the remaining animals will pull through.

“We think we’re in clear sailing on that,” he said. But as for adoptions, Hartley contends that due to the trauma that some of the dogs have experienced, the first couple of weeks at their new homes could be difficult.

Over the weekend the shelter was flooded with visitors and donations of food, money and supplies.

In addition, adoption applications are coming in with multiple suitors for the 25 dogs SWCHS is housing. Now, the shelter has begun to sort through the possible forever homes with the hope some of the dogs will have new families by the end of the week.

“We’re going to be making calls the next couple of days to set up appointments and talk to them about the responsibility of owning these puppy mill dogs,” said Hartley.

The original rescued 84 dogs are comprised of Boston terrier, Chihuahua, Italian greyhound, Maltese, papillon, Dalmation, poodle and Norwegian elkhound dogs, as well as mixed breeds.

The rest of the dogs were sent to various shelters throughout the state.

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Special contributions made to this report from the Marshfield News-Herald and the Stevens Point Journal.