Over 400 Eskimos Rescued
According to the Humane Society one of the largest and worst puppy mills in the nation has finally been shut down.
In Kennewick, WA after more than 40 years in business the Sun Valley Kennel will no longer be allowed to abuse and mistreat dogs, they have finally been stopped.
Detectives, deputies and about 50 specially trained volunteers from various animal rescue groups seized more than 400 dogs.
The animals were found living in wooden crates, shopping carts and other makeshift kennels caked with feces and soaked with urine.
“The conditions were not only shocking, but also heartbreaking to veteran deputies,” he said.
Inga Gibson, state director with The Humane Society of the United States West Coast Regional Office, said they’ve rescued animals from more than a half-dozen operations in the past couple of months.
“This is definitely one of the worst cases we have seen because of the conditions they were kept in,” Gibson said. “It’s one of the largest in Washington state and close to one of the largest in the country.”
Neighbors gathered across from Stewart’s home and on an adjacent property happily watching. They said it’ll be nice when it’s quiet and they can spend time in their yards without the foul odor.
“The lack of smell will be fabulous. Just knowing this has come to an end is fabulous,” said Helen Richardson, whose daughter has lived next door to Stewart for 20 years.
A couple of neighbors thanked a group of deputies as they walked by.
“I’m greatly relieved. Words can’t describe the joy and relief,” said Richardson. “… This is like the Holocaust, only with dogs.”
Richardson said the family has been saddened by what they’ve witnessed over the years and frustrated that nothing was done sooner.
It’s heartbreaking to think about the thousands of dogs who have suffered over the years at the hands of this woman, Ella Stewart. All because authorities looked the other way. What’s even more amazing to me is the fact that she was arrested not because of complaints, but when a deputy was responding to a call at a neighbor’s home and found deplorable conditions at the kennel. The dogs were left there for two weeks because the county doesn’t have an animal control facility.
Stewart was arrested May 12th and pleaded innocent to one count of second-degree animal cruelty. To add insult to injury, this charge is only a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and up to a $1,000 fine. What a joke, if this doesn’t prove the laws need to be changed I don’t know what does. Prosecutors are looking into other charges.
Community members can donate money to the sheriff’s office that will be designated to specifically help cover costs of food and medical care for the dogs. Checks made out to the Benton County Treasurer can be sent to Sheriff Taylor at 7122 W. Okanogan St., Building A, Kennewick, 99336.
*ADOPTABLE: Wouldn’t you like to adopt a King?
WHY did it take them 40 YEARS to help these dogs? Stories like this really get my blood boiling! I mean, seriously? FOURTY YEARS she has been abusing and neglecting animals???!!!!
Now I’m wondering if Sitka came from this puppy mill farm. We got him from a local pet shop in Richland (which is about 5 miles west of Kennewick). He had parvo and aggressive problem, before put to sleep from cancer and heart problem when he was 9 years old.
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/593551.html
here the website on the article with pictures, too.
I have been watching this story since May 15, when the woman was first release with no bail set and only given one conviction of animal abuse. She should be given 400! The Sheriff should be up on charges for not doing his job for years too.. He has no excuse for not seeking help from the rescue groups before it got to this extreme! Where are they ever going to find 400 homes for all of these American Eskimo dogs and a few Pomeranian?
I hope everyone on Dogster spreads the word, so they have a chance of being fostered or adopted. I have sent out numerous emails and pawmails, you never know who may want one
.
Last month they closed down another PM with over 200 toy breeds, That was extremely sad. Yorkies with broken legs, and twisted feet, missing joints, broken jaws, lacerated tongues,etc. It was horrific, to say the least! Will this ever end?
I don’t understand with all the media these puppymills and breeders are getting, why the government can’t step in sooner and pass a bill prohibiting the breeding of not more then 30 dogs and they must have a license, and be registered and authorized an okay to breed dogs AFTER they have been inspected? And the follow up should be a random inspection of at least three times a year.
The AKC is a joke too. because anyone can register a dog and litter. Many of the papers sent in to them from the PM are phonys.
Attacking the pet shops is a joke because if the PM were shut down, then the pet shops wouldn’t have any dogs to sell to begin with.
It really makes me sick, that here in the US with so called educated people, that their are so many people who are so inhumane and only out to make a buck a the cost of animal cruelty.
Personally, I think that all these rescue groups that devote so much time and effort should be given an award for their work. It can’t be easy on them seeing this garbage day in and day out
Just venting…Thanks
It’s sad that every single time, in every single state, when humane legislation is proposed the puppy millers and the back-yard breeders mobilize until the legislation is dropped. Here’s hoping that someday legislators will grow a pair (sorry to be so blunt) and pass laws with some teeth in them and stop the abomination that is puppy mills.
This case is obviously long overdue. yes, great that it’s finally been cracked, but…neighbour that stuck ith the smell for 20 years? What am i missing here?
This horrible place should not have been allowed to continue for a day, much less 40 years! The owner should be put in a cage and not be taken out for 40 days. Let her see what it was like for these poor dogs. It won’t hurt her! Someone could toss in some food, and put a bowl of water once or twice a day into the cage with her.
Sometimes the only way to make a person understand what they’re doing, is to make them live through it.
About freakin’ time!
It’s amazing to me that puppy mills are so damn hard to shut down.
The system is just way to over burdened, and there just isn’t enough enforcement. It’s so sad that in our society.
If you subscribe to the notion that a society’s measure is how it treats the least of it’s citizens, then we really aren’t doing too well… Sad to say.