A breeder in Parkersburg, W. VA. area  has surrendered 1,000 dogs to the humane society.

While there were no signs that the purebred dachshunds had been abused, officials say it would be impossible for any human being to properly care for that many animals.

The board president for the Humane Society in Parkersburg, Carrie Roe, stated many of the dogs have never been touched by a human.

Sheriff’s deputies investigating possible dog-related pollution found the dogs Saturday while executing a search warrant on the property.

Wood County Prosecutor Ginny Conley says the owner hasn’t been cited for animal neglect but has agreed to never operate a dog-breeding business again.

The rescue operation could cost over $100,000 placing a tremendous strain on the Humane Society of Parkersburg. Below is information for anyone who would like to make a donation or potentially adopt one of these precious dogs.

If you would like to assist the HSOP at this time of great need, we are accepting monetary donations to help cover the costs of this effort. We are also in need of clean towels and rolled newspapers. All donations should be taken directly to the main Shelter at 29th and Poplar.

People interested in volunteering for the effort should call the Shelter first at 304-422-5541 and leave a message on the Volunteer line. We appreciate all volunteers, but in order for things to work smoothly we must schedule volunteers for needed jobs. So PLEASE call first and leave a message of what you can do and when you are available. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

While some of the surrrendered animals will be made available for adoption locally, they will not be available until August 30th and will be adopted out using our normal adoption process. See Adoption Process on this website. Many of the animals will be going to rescues around the nation that are better equipped to deal with puppy mill animals, but animals that we feel are appropriate for local adopiton, will be available beginning on that date.

What is wrong with people? Seriously. I just came across this story and was reminded of the depths to which humanity can go.

Two Berks County commercial kennel operators shot and killed 80 dogs after dog wardens ordered some of the animals be examined by veterinarians, state dog law enforcement officials said Tuesday.

And because they broke no current Pennsylvania law by slaughtering the dogs, animal advocates and some lawmakers are outraged.

Elmer Zimmerman of Kutztown shot 70 dogs after an inspection last month, officials of the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement said.

His brother, Ammon Zimmerman, operator of a kennel next door, shot 10 of his own dogs, officials said.

These are kennel owners! You’d think they were in this profession because they love animals. How naive of me to think that. It’s all about the dollar.

“We went out on July 24 and inspected Elmer’s kennel. There were various kennel violations we said we’d be citing them for, and the warden ordered vet checks on 39 dogs,” said Jessie Smith, deputy secretary of the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement. “(Elmer Zimmerman) told the warden, ‘I think I’m going out of business.’ We suggested that he surrender the dogs, but he was not agreeable to that. Then he called the warden back over the weekend and said he shot the dogs.”

He brutally shot them because he couldn’t afford to take care of them. Why not just give them up?

Still, she said she doesn’t know why the Zimmermans chose to kill their breeder dogs rather than turn them over to any of the dozens of shelters, rescue groups and others willing to take even sick and ailing animals discarded by commercial breeding kennels.

“Unfortunately, under current law, kennel owners may kill their dogs for any reason, even if it is simply to save money,” H.B. 2525’s prime sponsor Rep. James E. Casorio Jr. of Westmoreland County wrote in a Friday press release in response to the Zimmerman killings.

The incident has outraged animal advocates and strengthened resolve of backers of House Bill 2525, which seeks to improve life for dogs living in the state’s commercial breeding kennels. H.B. 2525 includes a provision that would prohibit commercial breeders from shooting their own dogs by requiring euthanization by a veterinarian.

If you live in Pennsylvania, let your local representative know that you support this legislation.

After the update on the woman from Tarpon Springs, FL getting 60 of her dogs back I received a moving letter from my friend Paddy Boy.  He, along with mom Nancy, are fostering one of the dogs that were removed.  Cinnamon, their foster girl, is a two year old Pomeranian who was used and abused at the puppy mill.  She was bred too many times and as a result is dealing with many medical issues.  Under the loving care of her foster family, and with proper medical attention,  she was finally starting to get well and now she may be handed back to the person that hurt her.

Paddy sent me an entry from his diary that’s a tribute to Cinnamon and all her companions that were removed from the deplorable conditions in Tarpon Springs.

Missing Blue
July 30th 2008 11:55am

For my friend, Cinnamon and all her pals; Imagine this if- you can….

You are living in a cage; small crowded space. You have been there your entire life. You have never been outside; you have no concept of the world except for your imprisonment.

You have no place to relieve yourself except for that cage; neither does anyone else. It smells rotten in there but you have no other choice. The food comes and you fight to get some but when you start to chew, it hurts because your teeth are rotting. You give up; you go lay down if you can find room. You try and sleep on your side but that is agony because of the lumps on your right side. You try and lay on your left but it makes your painful ear worse.

You have it bad but others have it worse. The two-year old female next to you can barely walk with her bloody paws. The one next to her can’t breathe from a collapsed trachea. Is this what life is really like? Do you want to exist anymore.

Can you imagine living like this????

One day you wake up and these people come. You are really scared and become more frightened when they start to take you away. You can’t help wondering if you are going to another place as bad as the one you are leaving.
You arrive at your new destination. They speak softly to you as they bathe the horrible smells away. They give you your own bowl of food and it is soft so that you can eat it. They tend to your hurts. They take you outside to this wonderful place and you sniff the grass for the first time. You want to thank them but you are still scared. You approach and they touch you lovingly. God, this is wonderful, you think. You slink up to the first person and she whispers “good dog”. You don’t really know what that means but the tone of her voice is so pleasing. You lick her hand and she begins to cry. I think she knows what you have endured. You are lucky you have survived.

IMAGINE LIVING LIKE THIS???? Imagine this as if it were your life and tell me truthfully if you can ever let this happen again.

STOP THE FLORIDA PUPPY MILL BREEDER NOW….Stop Theresita Hughes from getting these 121 puppies back; they deserve so much better!!!

Thank you Paddy for the insight into the life of a puppy mill dog.  Thank you Nancy for putting action behind your words,  for taking in a foster dog that needed your help.  We commend you both.

In Siouxland,  IA  law enforcement oficials are looking for a silver and blue extended back pickup truck that may be involved in dumping  twenty-five diseased dogs on a highway.

Sioux City Animal Control received a call early Monday morning from the Monona County Sheriff’s Office, saying more than 2 dozen neglected dogs were left along Highway L-20.

This is a heartbreaking story and the person(s) behind this heinous act of cruelty need to be found and brought to justice.

Authorities have found 11 of the dogs, ranging from puppies to medium size breeds, all of which had to be euthanized. The rest of the dogs are still at large.

Let’s see if any of our wonderful Dogster members located in the Siouxland area can provide any clues leading to the arrest and prosecution of these criminals.  Anyone with any information Monona County Sheriff’s Office in Onawa.

Bo’s friend Zoe sent over this message about the Suncoast Animal League.  This shelter, located in Florida,  was one of the shelters that received puppies from the Tarpon Springs puppy mill raid.

Volunteers and their fosters, telling their story and pictures of the thriving dogs that were rescued 04/07/08 in Tarpon Springs. See how well they are doing and applaude the efforts the volunteers are making in these dog’s lives.

It’s thanks to the efforts of the volunteers  that these beautiful dogs are starting to come around. Take a minute to read these wonderful stories and see how dedication, care, and love can change a dog’s life.

In a pet center near Jacksonville, Fl a special adoption event was held.

About 300 people clustered in front of the building and drew random numbers for their chance to take home a purebred dog rescued from a June 25 puppy-mill raid in Tennessee.

The dogs were saved from undersized cages and filthy living conditions and sent to pet adoption centers across the country. St. Johns County received about 30, 10 of which were immediately available.

It’s heartwarming to see so many people who want to adopt these wonderful dogs.  If only it didn’t take a purebred puppy to get this many potential adopters to open their homes.  There are so many wonderful mixed breeds available for adoption everyday, let’s not forget about them.

Department Manager Paul Studivant said he hoped the clamor for the purebred pups would lead to some of the center’s other animals finding an owner. He tried to convince one of the pet-lottery winners to take home a solid-looking Labrador mix.

All 10 of the available purebreds, including two pugs that still require surgery, were snatched up by the end of the event. An additional eight dogs and two cats from the center’s general population also were adopted.

I give a special kudos to Paul Studivant for treating all the adoptable dogs as equals and not overlooking the importance of all of them getting homes. This story isn’t over yet, there’s a little fella I need to tell you about.

Buster, a 1-year-old,light-brown German shepherd mix pawed at the air as people kept walking past his cage. It looked like he was beckoning each passerby to glance his way. His deep brown eyes looked melancholy as few took the time to get that far.

So, for any one looking for a dog named Buster, or one of the many other adoptable dogs, the St. Johns County Pet Center is at 130 N. Stratton Road.  It is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Prospective pet owners can call (904) 209-6190.

7/17 UPDATE:  I just received a message from Thom W.  that Buster has a new home.  That’s great news, but there are still many dogs there that need forever homes.

In Jacksonville’s newspaper today, there is an article stating that Buster now has a new home. A local doctor has adopted him.

He may have been pandering to his children but if there’s one thing Senator Barack Obama will learn, there’s no going back on commitments when kids and puppies are involved.

I’m sure many of you already know, the junior senator from Illinois promised his kids they would be able to get a dog if he is voted into the White House in November of this year.

This has dog lovers around the globe intently watching the race for the next President of the United States just to see what type of dog the kids are going to get. I’ll put dollars to donuts that he’s still going to be getting the kids a fuzzy little ball of fun even if he loses.

I think this is one of those great teaching moments that come along every once in a great while. What if the Obamas were to go to a local shelter to pick out their dog or opt for a dog rescue organization to select their dog of choice? What a great message that would send.

That’s why when I found out what the Best Friends Animal Society was doing to promote this very thing I got so excited. They’ve set up a website www.ObamaFamilyDog.com to petition the Senator to go down the rescue path rather than the purchasing one. The website has great information on why adoption is such a great choice and you’ll be amazed at the wonderful things this organization is doing to create “a better world through kindness to animals”.

The ObamaFamilyDog.com site was created as a response to The American Kennel Club which quickly identified a list of five possible “pure” breeds that the Obamas could buy from a pet store or breeder.

Best Friends’ has a different thought…

“With millions of homeless pets still being killed in shelters every year, they’re proposing that the Obamas NOT buy a dog – instead, that they adopt their next dog from a shelter or rescue group.”

Anyone who’s looked into how pet stores get their dogs is appalled when they find out about the realities of puppy mills and backyard breeders. This is not directed at ethical breeders, but at those who breed their dogs without thought to the welfare of the animal, the offspring and the future owners. It truly disgusts me.

Ted has previously written about the little known world of puppy mills and backyard breeders that were exposed by Oprah on her show. In that piece he makes a great point.

“..if people simply knew about puppy mills and backyard breeders, we could kill all their business.”

He’s right. If someone were to watch the Oprah show on puppy mills, I guarantee they will be adopting their next best friend.

As a Dogster member, chances are you more aware of this problem than the average person, or dog owner. I urge to take this opportunity to influence the education of the world on dog rescues by helping the Obamas make the right choice. Go sign the petition now.

Here’s a heartwarming video by the Humane Society on their recent efforts to save hundreds of puppies from a mill in Tennessee.

The rescue operation cost $105,000, and they desperately need help to pay for this work and prepare for the next time animals need our help.  If you have the means, please visit their site and think about donating to this worthy cause.

Click thru if you don’t see the video

Thanks to Randi Sachs for bringing our attention to this.

Thanks to the Dogster member who sent in this plea for support. If you live in Pennsylvania, please act now. If you don’t but know people who do, please alert them.

House Bill 2525 is now out of Committee and is on its way to the House floor for vote. This is the puppy mill law, and it is CRITICAL that you call your PA state Representative (not federal). Calling carries more weight than email.

If you don’t know your representative, go to this site and (top right corner) enter your 5-digit zip code plus the 4-digit extension. Ask them to support HB 2525.

This is the bill we’ve been waiting for to help reduce the number of dogs in puppy mills and end suffering.

Additionally, ask your Representative to support HB 2532 (the de-barking and birthing bill). The puppy millers stick steel pipes down dogs’ throats to destroy their vocal cords so they don’t have to hear the dogs barking, and it keeps them quiet so the public isn’t aware of where these mills are located. This bill “should” end this action. I say “should” only because we should expect that some will continue this horrible practice. Currently puppy millers are also cutting open the stomachs of dogs during birthing without anesthesia.

From The Humane Society:

The HSUS Commends the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee for Passing Important Anti-Cruelty Legislation
HARRISBURG, Pa. (June 24, 2008)

The Humane Society of the United States commends the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee for approving a bill addressing some of the cruelest practices employed by puppy mills today.

The legislation now advances to the full House of Representatives. Introduced by Rep. Thomas Caltagirone (D-Berks), HB 2532 seeks to outlaw abusive practices employed by breeders in Pennsylvania’s puppy mills, including debarking, performing surgery on pregnant dogs to remove the puppies, and tail docking.

Under current law, it is completely legal for commercial breeders in Pennsylvania to perform surgical births by slicing open the stomachs of pregnant dogs, removing the puppies, and sewing the dogs back up. There is not any requirement that the breeders have any veterinary training, use anesthesia, or conduct the operations in sterile conditions. Breeders may also perform painful debarking by ramming a metal pipe or other object down a dog’s throat to rupture the vocal cords and render the dog mute, again without anesthesia and while the dog is fully conscious.

The provisions of HB 2532 are common sense to anyone. Only licensed veterinarians should be authorized to perform surgery on these dogs, says Sarah Speed, The HSUS’ Pennsylvania state director. “For too long, commercial breeders have abused the laxity in the law to maximize profit at the expense of the well-being of the dogs and the unwitting consumer.”

HB 2532 will also close a loophole in the law that allows commercial breeders to escape prosecution for animal cruelty. Under the current law, only a Humane Society Police Officer has the ability to cite a breeder for animal cruelty. In counties where there is no such officer, a breeder may escape citation. Currently there are three counties in Pennsylvania that do not have a Humane Society Police Officer. HB 2532 will close this loophole by allowing Dog Law Wardens in the counties without officers to issue citations for animal cruelty within the limited scope of performance of their inspection duties.

The Humane Society of the United States is working in conjunction with The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Pennsylvania Legislative Animal Network to pursue this important legislative effort in Pennsylvania.

Thanks to our friends at The Humane Society for barking this in.

We thought Dogsters might want to know about the rescue happening now of nearly 700 dogs from a puppy mill in Tennessee. You can see more about the rescue on the blog of Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States—the group leading the operation. Yesterday Wayne posted a first-hand report from the leader of the rescue team, along with a really moving video from the scene.

And for Dogsters who want to fight back against puppy mills, The HSUS has posted five ways to take action.

Day One Video (Click the arrow in the lower left-hand corner to play.)

Day Two Video