Rescuers seek homes for puppy mill pooches

[Cain714]

KENNEWICK, Wash. - The 371 miniature American Eskimos rescued from a puppy mill are responding well to the kindness of rescuers who are working to find them good homes.

Adoptions may start soon because the owner of the kennel has agreed to give the dogs up, said Benton County Sheriff Larry Taylor.

“As you can see, these little babies need to have a home,” Taylor said Thursday as a fluffy white puppy, now named Snowball, nuzzled against his cheek. “Isn’t she just darling?”
Taylor led dozens of detectives and specially trained volunteers Wednesday to confiscate the dogs from Sun Valley Kennel in Kennewick, which Humane Society officials called one of the nation’s largest and worst puppy mills. It took more than 13 hours to move the animals to the Benton County Fairgrounds, where temporary kennels awaited them.

All of the dogs needed some medical care and some needed extensive treatment, Taylor said.

Had kennel owner Ella Stewart not agreed to give up the dogs, the sheriff’s office would have had to keep control of them until her court case was completed. She has pleaded innocent to one count of second-degree animal cruelty in Benton County District Court, but could face additional charges.

The Humane Society of the United States is working to get the dogs into shelters across the state and possibly Oregon and Idaho so they can be adopted. The dogs range in age from a few days old to their late teens. Two females are set to give birth.

The younger pups will need foster care until they’re old enough to be adopted, while others may need extensive medical attention. Rescuers said some dogs had matted coats, urine burns, dental issues as a result of poor diet, bite wounds and old scarring.

“The hope is to have the dogs moved out in a couple of days,” said Inga Gibson, state director with The Humane Society of the United States’ West Coast regional office.

*Edited thread title-Leon*

[Leon]

People who run puppy mills are pathetic. My neighbor said she bought a puppy from a puppy mill because they were starving the puppies that weren't sold. Because they didn't want to pay for the food. She said she bought a half dead puppy for 300 dollars because she wanted to save her. The doctors said the pup will not make it, but thankfully, she is 10 yrs old now. :). But if i ever find those people who did that to her, man i don't know what i will do...probably something illegal.

[kumhomomma]

there is a well known puppy mill at the local flea market and yet people STILL pile in to buy "discount paper dogs" annoys the hell outta me almost as much as the "trunk" walmart selling "breeders"

[FloorCandy]

The issue of buying from puppy mills is tough, the amish who run many puppy mills in pennsylvania have auctions where they sell dogs like slabs of meat, they are kept all day in stiffling kennels with no food or water waiting their turn, many are half dead when they reach the stage. I know some people who do rescue, and they sometimes go to these places and buy the dogs that are really on their last legs. It's a hard decision, do you pay these places money for a dog, therefore encouraging them to continue what they are doing, or do you sit by and watch a half dead dog get sold for the $50 you have in your pocket, knowing that where it's going is probably worse than where it is now.

I honestly bought Lady from less than ideal conditions because I could see she was sick, and I couldn't leave her there. Did I encourage what might have been a BYB to just keep doing this, yes, but I can't imagine where she'd be now. However, looking back, I'm sure there are free dogs in shelters who were just as bad off as she was, and could that $ have been used to save other dogs who needed help just as badly without encouraging bad breeding behavior? This might be an interesting topic for debate.