100 dogs saved from puppy mill

Teamwork between several national and local animal welfare groups saved the lives of more than 100 dogs on Tuesday from a puppy mill in Central Missouri.



The owner of the kennel could no longer afford to feed the dogs.



The dogs, which included small breeds such as Dachshunds, Malteses, Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, and large breeds such as Huskies and Boxers, were voluntarily surrendered by the owner of the puppy mill. He contacted a local rescue group, Half-way Home Pet Rescue and explained that he couldn’t afford to feed the dogs. The rescue group called the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for help.



The Rescue Plan

The ASPCA quickly put a collaborative rescue plan into action. They sent eight members from their Anti-Cruelty team and their 60-foot-long animal transport trailer to the puppy mill. They also enlisted the help of PetSmart Charities to supply the large number of pet transport carriers and crates needed.



The dogs were then transferred to two local animal rescue groups - the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri in Springfield and HSMO in St. Louis. Each of the rescued pups will stay with the rescue groups until they are given a clean bill of health and ready to be adopted into a family of their own.



Collaborative Efforts Are A Win-Win

This is not the first collaborative rescue between national animal welfare groups and local organizations, but in my opinion it seems to be a new trend that wasn’t present in many large rescue efforts just a year or two ago.



Previously it was common for the animals rescued in those missions to be victimized further by deeming them unadoptable and euthanizing them.



Now it is becoming routine for the victimized cats, dogs and other animals to be sent to regional animal rescue organizations that are nursing them back to health, rehabilitating them and successfully placing them in adopted homes. It’s a win-win for everyone.



The cooperative efforts aren’t just limited the ASPCA. Last week a dozen regional rescue groups took in 200 dogs and 54 cats after PETA exposed a North Carolina research laboratory for the cruel treatment of the animals at the facility.



And last year the Humane Society of the United States teamed up with a multitude of local animal welfare groups after they organized the largest raid on dog fighting rings in U.S. history. The majority of those dogs was rehabilitated and found loving homes for the first time in their lives.



Tim Rickey, the ASPCA’s Senior Director of Field Investigation and Response had this to say about the puppy mill rescue on Tuesday. “The ASPCA is committed to assisting local animal organizations, as well as overwhelmed breeders, to help find homes for animals in situations like this.”



He also acknowledged the extra burden placed on local animal rescue groups. “Having too many dogs, as this crisis clearly illustrates, puts a tremendous strain on local agencies when they are suddenly forced to care and find homes for large numbers of animals,” said Rikey.



But everyone involved in the effort believes this is still the best way to handle large scale rescues.



Latisha Duffy of Half-way Home Pet Rescue said, “We’re grateful to national and local animal welfare groups for stepping up to the plate and working together for the common goal of saving lives. Instead of being sold off to auction, these dogs now have a second chance at life.”



Missouri Puppy Mills

The ASPCA reported that Missouri, where the dogs were rescued, is considered to be the puppy mill capital of the country. The state, “exports more than 40 percent of all dogs sold in pet stores nationwide,” ASPCA said in a press release. “It is home to more than 3,000 commercial dog breeding facilities.”


Because of these facts, the ASPCA is urging those living in Missouri to support Proposition B, or the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act, which will be on the November ballot
from care 2 written by sharon seltzer