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TX: 220 dogs removed from filthy conditions Authorities had tried to aid owner
By DALE LEZON
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
Puppies were among the more than 200 small dogs seized from feces-strewn cages at a breeding operation in rural San Jacinto County on Wednesday and taken to the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shelter.

The dogs -- mostly Chihuahuas and Pomeranians -- were found in dirty pens on private property near Coldspring. Although they appeared healthy and well fed, they were living in dung, said Raymond Lofton, a San Jacinto County sheriff's deputy who helped collect the 220 dogs. The owner breeds the dogs and sells them on the Internet, Lofton said.

A rabbit and two parrots were also seized.

"This is the largest seizure of dogs we've had," said San Jacinto County Sheriff Lacy Rogers.

The Houston SPCA and the sheriff's office have worked with the owner for two years to improve the dogs' conditions, said Alice Sarmiento, the Houston SPCA's director of development and community outreach. The owner complied with animal-care requirements only temporarily before violating them again, she said.

Investigators found that the conditions had worsened recently, and sheriff's deputies obtained a warrant to seize the animals.

The property owner has not been charged, Rogers said. If a justice of the peace determines that animal cruelty took place, the owner could be charged with a misdemeanor punishable by a fine and up to a year in jail.

The animals will be cared for at the Houston SPCA and, if no animal cruelty is determined, returned to their owner.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistor...politan/2478995

Animal Abuse Cases - Details

 En Español

Couple charged with neglect - 61 spaniels - (Wawayanda, NY - US)

Crime Date: 03/24/2004
Case Status: Alleged
Case Photos: Available - Click Here

 

Accused Abuser(s):
Jack Stoltz 

 		 Frances Stoltz 

 

Couple charged with neglect - 61 spaniels - (NY, US)

Case Status: Alleged - [read story]
Date: 03/24/2004

Accused Abuser(s):

  • Jack Stoltz 
  • Frances Stoltz 

     

    Case Photos:

    • Case Report

     

    61 spaniels raced out of four sheds, their hair matted with feces and dirt and smelled of urine. The dogs' owners, Jack and Frances Stoltz, were charged with 61 misdemeanor counts of neglect.

    Authorities took away nine dogs immediately for emergency cleaning. Found were four sheds set off from a well-kept home.

    The heated sheds lacked ventilation, creating a noxious steam bath inside. There was no sawdust on the ground to absorb urine.

    A Local Vet tipped of Authorities after visiting them. Authorities stated the hair on some was so matted they couldn't even walk.

    The number of dogs did not violate local rules. For now, authorities allowed the Stoltzes to keep the other 52 dogs at their residence.

     

    A PUPPY MILL is a facility that breeds large numbers of dogs for profit. They are still legal and exist by the thousands, primarily in the midwest.

    In April 2000, a Dateline NBC traced the origin of a puppy named Bella who was purchased at a Petland store and had serious health problems. She had been born in a Missouri facility housing 200 dogs in cramped cages. At a Petland supplier in Kansas, Dateline investigators found 500 dogs in cages. The dogs’ problems included infected eyes, rotted teeth, mange, open sores, and neurotic behavior--such as repetitive circling--associated with long periods of confinement.

    THE FAIRFAX PETLAND OBTAINS PUPPIES FROM THE HUNTE CORPORATION, THE LARGEST DISTRIBUTOR OF PUPPIES IN THE COUNTRY. The Hunte Corp., aka H&H Pets, deals with breeders in several midwestern states.

    ASK THE FAIRFAX PETLAND FOR THE ADDRESS OF THEIR BREEDERS. They probably won’t tell you (the midwest address is a giveaway). They’ll say the puppies come from private breeders. Puppy mills ARE private breeders.

    WHILE PETLAND SELLS PUPPIES DAILY, AN ESTIMATED 2-4 MILLION DOGS ARE DESTROYED IN U.S. ANIMAL SHELTERS EACH YEAR DUE TO LACK OF HOMES. That is a large number but not overwhelming compared to the 60 million dogs that DO have homes in the U.S. If more dog-lovers would rescue homeless dogs and spay and neuter them, this tragic slaughter could be stopped.

    PETLAND SELLS RABBITS, ESPECIALLY NOW AT EASTERTIME. Often abandoned shortly after Easter, rabbits are readily available from rescue groups and shelters. Only a small number ever find homes. The rest are killed.

    These are only a few of the animals sold at Petland. PETLAND HOUSES SMALL WILD ANIMALS SUCH AS FROGS IN TINY CUBICLES, WHERE THEY ARE UNABLE TO ENGAGE IN VIRTUALLY ANY NATURAL BEHAVIOR.

     

    Dear Staff & Network Members,

    The pressure is beginning to mount on Woof and Co., the big new corporation
    that's traying to set up a new chain of "high end" pet stores all
    across the country to sell puppies from puppy mills.
    They're changing their name (to "Rufus") and they've got a new CEO, and
    they're trying to repair their image in the wake of more
    demonstrations in Boston. The one thing they're not doing: stopping selling
    puppies from puppy mills.
     

    http://www.southbaynews.com/news/2004/0407/Community_News/036.html

    South Bay News, New York
    Tuesday, April 06, 2004

    Assemblyman Bob Sweeney recently urged the governor to reconsider budget cuts that would lead to the elimination of the annual inspection requirement for pet dealers that sell more than 25 animals each year, as well as the complaint-based inspections now mandated for smaller pet dealers.

    "If we start ignoring animal abuse to save a few dollars, we're sending a message that inhumane acts are acceptable," Sweeney said. "This is not the kind of message we should be sending. I will work to make sure that laws ensuring the humane treatment of all animals are enforced."

    In 2000, the rising number of "backyard breeder" incidences that resulted in animal cruelty cases in our state led to the passage of the "Pet Dealer Consumer Protection and Animal Care Standards Act." The law requires annual licensing and inspection for both pet stores and breeders who sell dogs and
    cats to the public.

    Sweeney noted that without inspections, this law, designed to protect puppies and kittens sold as pets as well as the consumers who purchase them, will be unenforceable. Elimination of the inspections could also threaten public
    health, as animals can transmit some diseases to humans.

     

    April 8, 2004

    CHATTANOOGA (AP) -- Tennessee agriculture inspectors have started looking for unscrupulous dog and cat breeders who operate puppy and kitty "mills."

    An agriculture spokesman says that since inspections started in February, 12 breeders have been inspected and licensed and the department is receiving applications from across the state.

    The July 2002 law that started the inspections "does not apply to breeders who do not sell to pet stores or to others for resale."

    The Tennessee Dog and Cat Dealer Act requires breeders who buy or sell more than 25 animals a year or who sell animals to retailers for resale to be licensed with the Department of Agriculture.

    Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

    http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=1772933


    Man Faces Hundreds Of Animal Cruelty Charges

    A horrible scene in Whitley County. That's how animal control officers describe a kennel in the Rockholds community.

    The kennel's owner faces more than two hundred counts of animal cruelty.

    WKYT's Kellie Wilson went inside the kennel and talked with the owner, who has a very different story.

    Randel Geary says he feels violated after animal control officials
    entered and searched his kennel Thursday.

    He says there hasn't been a problem at his business in the more than twenty years he's owned it and he doesn't see a reason for this investigation.

    You can hear them before you can see them--more than 200 dogs, mostly poodles at the Royal Oak Kennel.

    Geary says, "Any time one of them gets sick, I take him up there and Dr. Bolen takes care of them. And I buy Iams--that's the best dog feed you can buy."

    But, animal control officials say that's not the scene they saw
    Thursday. Steve Schwartz is a Whitley County animal control officer.  "I'd rather go to the landfill as to go into this kennel. That's how bad the odor gets when you walk within 15 to 20 feet."

    Schwartz has been investigating the kennel for more than a year after people who purchased poodles from Randal Geary said the animals got sick and died only days after they were brought home.

    Schwartz says he expected to find problems at the kennel, but he wasn't prepared for what he saw. "Loss of hair, broken legs, there was one that was bleeding bad from the rectum. The kennel was just full of blood."

    But Geary says none of these accusations are true. "I don't abuse no dogs. Why would I?"

    Schwartz responds, "We're going to enforce this. If you have a dog, take care of it. That's all we ask."

    In addition to more than two hundred criminal charges, Geary faces five felony charges.

    Geary heads to court Monday. He plans to fight the charges against him.

     


     
    MassFedDogs.org Home
    Reports on the Lancaster Amish Mills
    The following email had minimal editing/formatting

     

    << TAKE A MINUTE AND READ THIS PLEASE - REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE 
AMISH ARE DOING WITH DOGS !!!!!  BIGGEST PUPPY MILL BREEDERS IN THE COUNTRY 
!!!!!!  READ ABOUT THE WARRANTS ISSUED !!! GOOD RELIGOUS PEOPLE !!!! A
-----------------
From: MinPins4All@egroups.com
To: MinPins4All@egroups.com
Subject: [MinPins4All] Digest Number 378

From NBC in Lancaster: (3 different reports---no pictures)

 GOOD EVENING, I'M DENNIS BUTERBAUGH.
 THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. OUR TOP STORY. A REPORTED CASE OF ANIMAL CRUELTY IN LANCASTER 
COUNTY. POLICE IN MOUNT JOY TOWNSHIP SAY THEY SEIZED SIXTY DOGS THAT WERE
ALLEGEDLY  MISTREATED AT A KENNEL ALONG RISSER MILL ROAD IN THE TOWNSHIP.
 THE DOGS ARE BEING CARED FOR AT THE HUMANE LEAGUE OF LANCASTER 
COUNTY TONIGHT. POLICE SAY THE KENNEL THEY RAIDED IS OWNED BY 56-YEAR-OLD CHARLES 
CARR AND  48-YEAR OLD VIRGINIA SWAYNE. THE HUMANE LEAGUE SAYS IT IS NOT ACCEPTING ANYMORE PETS FROM ANYONE 
UNTIL THE EMERGENCY WITH THE SEIZED DOGS IS TAKEN CARE OF


+++++++++++++++
 IN OTHER NEWS THIS MORNING.MOUNT JOY TOWNSHIP POLICE SEIZED SIXTY 
DOGS THAT  WERE ALLEGEDLY MISTREATED AT A KENNEL ALONG RISSER MILL ROAD IN THE
 TOWNSHIP. THE DOGS WERE TAKEN TO THE HUMANE LEAGUE OF LANCASTER COUNTY.
 POLICE SAY THE KENNEL IS OWNED BY 56-YEAR-OLD CHARLES CARR AND 48-
YEAR OLD VIRGINIA SWAYNE. THE HUMANE LEAGUE IS NOT ACCEPTING ANY MORE DOGS UNTIL IT CAN 
HANDLE THE EMERGENCY WITH ALL THOSE DOGS.

+++++++++++++++
GOOD EVENING, I'M JANELLE STELSON.
DENNIS BUTERBAUGH IS OFF.

TONIGHT'S TOP STORY: THE HUMANE LEAGUE OF LANCASTER COUNTY IS IN 
EMERGENCY MODE. TREATING 60-DOGS SEIZED FROM A MOUNT JOY KENNEL.
YESTERDAY WE TOLD YOU ABOUT THE SEIZURE.

TODAY, THE VETERINARIANS GOT A LOOK ON THE BADLY NEGLECTED PUPPIES.
NEWS 8'S ANNE SHANNON WAS AT THE HUMANE LEAGUE. FOR WHAT HAS BEEN A 
VERY DIFFICULT DAY FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.

ANNE?

JANELLE -- THIS AFTERNOON I GOT A CHANCE TO SEE SOME OF THE ANIMALS 
WHO WERE SEIZED IN THAT RAID ON FRIDAY.
RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE OF THE NUMBERS AND THEIR SERIOUS CONDITION THEY 
ARE BEING HOUSED IN A SEPARATE FACILITY AT THE HUMANE LEAGUE.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT BREEDS -- AND WE SHOULD WARN YOU - 
THEIR CONDITIONS ARE NOT PRETTY.

LEE WHEELER: THIS IS ONE OF THE DOGS TAKEN IN
DURING THE FRIDAY RAID, SHE HAS MATS OVER 90-PERCENT OF HER BODY. 
UNDER SOME OF HER MATS ARE SOME FESTERING BLOODY WOUNDS.
THE DOGS TELL THEIR OWN STORY.

THESE ARE JUST TWO OF THE MORE THAN SIXTY DOGS RESCUED AND BROUGHT 
HERE TO THE HUMANE LEAGUE OF LANCASTER COUNTY.

LEE WHEELER: MANY OF THE DOGS ARE IN THIS CONDITION, BULLDOGS WITH EYE
CONDITIONS SOME BLIND, SOME THEIR SIGHT IS IMPAIRED IF NOT BLIND
THE ANIMALS WERE ALLEDGEDLY NEGLECTED BY THEIR OWNERS -- CHARLES CARR 
AND VIRGINIA SWAYNE. THEY APPARENTLY LIVED IN THESE BARN-LIKE BUILDINGS IN MOUNT JOY 
TOWNSHIP.

LEE WHEELER: THE VET HAS TERMED THIS NEGLECT, LONG TERM NEGLECT.

ANNE SHANNON/NEWS 8: ONLY THOSE DOGS WHO WERE SICK AND IN NEED OF 
VETERNARY CARE WERE TAKEN. ACCORDING TO THE HUMANE LEAGUE, THERE ARE ABOUT 40 
DOGS WHO ARE STILL INSIDE.

LEE WHEELER: SO LAST NIGHT, AND TONIGHT WHEN IT'S COLD AND THE 
TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 50-DEGREES, THEY'LL BE COLD IN A BULDING WITH BROKEN WINDOWS.
SINCE NEWS OF THE RAID GOT OUT, DOZENS OF VOLUNTEER AND RESCUE 
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE SHOWN UP AT THE HUMANE LEAGUE OFFICES.
THEIR WORK IS MORE THAN WELCOME.

MAGGIE WEIDINGER/HUMANE LEAGUE OF LANCASTER CO.: YEAH, A COUPLE OF 
GOOD THINGS HAVE HAPPENED. PEOPLE HAVE COME IN JUST TO CLEAN CAGES. NOW 
INSTEAD OF 60-DOGS WE HAVE 120 DOGS HERE IN THE SHELTER.
WE DID GO TO THE DOG KENNELS AND ASKED TO SPEAK WITH CHARLES CARR AND
VIRGINIA SWAYNE. THEY DID NOT WANT TO COMMENT AT THIS TIME.

+++++++++++
From the Shelter

As many of you know the Mt. Joy Township police served a search 
warrant last evening, here in Lancaster County, PA.As a result of visits to 
two dog breeding facilities , named in the warrant, 60 dogs were seized 
and the owners cited for cruelty. This is the second visit to these 
kennels in the last 2 weeks. 1 dead dog and several sick dogs were 
removed on that prior visit. The dogs that were seized were transported to the

Lancaster County Humane League, since we are the only shelter in the 
County. This transportation effort was achieved with the help of very 
dedicated  volunteers that dropped everything and left work on Friday 
afternoon. We have just completed the task of identifying and 
documenting all of the problems these animals,for the prosecution of these 
charges.
 
Tomorrow we have 2 vets, Dr. Gula and Dr. Price , who are giving up their 
one day off, to treat these sick animals. We have arranged for volunteers 
to help with the ferrying of animals for the vets. We home at this time to 
do some grooming and start most of the medical care. The conditions of 
these animals are horrendous, several had to have their collars cut off with 
bold cutters, they had grown into their skin. It seems that several are 
blind, some have obvious tumors and terrible skin conditions. The breeds that 
were removed were: English Bulldogs, Pugs, Cocker Spaniels, Shih Tzu, Cock-
a-Poos, Chihuahua (short & long haired) , Brussells Griffon, Boxer, 
Dogues de Bordeaux, Yorkie.

I would ask that you forward this e-mail to any of the dog 
rescue groups that you may be affiliated with. These dogs must be kept in 
foster care while this case is pending, as evidence. We are currently 
housing these dogs in our Education Center in crates that we purchased today. 

We hope to begin moving them into foster care tomorrow, and to have them 
completely housed by Wednesday. I believe it's important to have people that 
understand the issues that go along with Puppy Mill dogs, and also ideally 
they would be knowledgeable in the breed. The English Bulldogs have lots of 
eye, ear  and skin problems that will need to be dealt with.

This has been a learning experience for all of us. As usual 
though these animals have been patient and understanding as we've muddled 
our way through it. I desperately need this to be a success. We have 231 
licensed kennels in Lancaster County, countless more unlicensed. Mt. Joy township 
police have been absolutely wonderful in enforcing the law, and have made a 
huge leap of faith that the "dog people" will come through for them and 
support their effort. We are now a integral chain in the "chain of evidence" 
of these cruelty complaints. If we can prove that we are willing and 
more importantly able to respond and find homes for the dogs, I beleive that we 
will see these type of seizures of sick animals grow.
 
 
 
 What you can do to help ..
 
 Cleaning
 We were somewhat caught off guard by the numbers of animals 
coming in, but purchased about 50 crates today . These animals are coming 
in on top of a full kennel. If you could help keep their crates clean, 
until we can get them into foster that would be great.
 
 Fostering
 We need to keep these animals safe and secure, we need to be 
able to know where they are at all times. Don't be offended when we ask the
 questions that we do, we need to know that they are going to good homes. 
If you are interested in fostering, please send me an e-mail. (I'll check 
my e-mail before I go to the shelter tomorrow) You can try getting in 
touch with me tomorrow at the shelter. (717-393-6551)
 
 Funds
 I'm awful at asking for money, but the purchase of the 
crates was several thousand dollars alone. If you are able to help out with the 
expenses please earmark the funds for "Puppy Mill" and it'll go to this cause
 specifically.
 The medical bills of some of these guys could get pretty 
steep. But their lives have been such hell that I'd really like to do all that 
we can for everyone of them.
 
 Adopting
 I hope that eventually all of these animals will be 
available for adoption. If you're interested we'll get your info to the 
Foster families. Plus don't forget we've got a full kennel of great dogs too.
 (www.humaneleague.com)
 
 Thanks Yous--
 A last but most importantly please send a thank you to 
Officer Ken Henry of the Mount Joy Township Police (I'll post his address below) He 
made this happen. He originally went to this site because someone 
complained about not getting thier AKC papers. He could have pretended not to see 
what he did. Instead he did what he could do leagally to stop the cruelty 
in these places. Dr. Sue Gula, who looked at each and every dog , 
animal by animal in a dark dank barn, and who constintley give %150 for the 
animals of Lancaster County. And Lee Wheeler, without her knowledge and
 understanding of Puppy Mills dogs we would have failed already. She has 
provided the animals of Lancaster County with one of their first "legal" 
voices. She fights tirelessly for their rights at every level, from 
local , to state and federal. But still spent over 20 hours in the last two days,
 transporting dogs, cleaning kennels, soothing desperate scared animals. 

     
    Puppy mill - 100 carcasses, 29 animals siezed - (Lumberton, NC - US)
    Crime Date: 04/26/2004
    Case Status: Alleged
    Case Photos: Available - GRAPHIC
     http://www.pet-abuse.com/database/case_photos.php?case_id=2261


    Accused Abuser(s):  Mary Meekins

    Animal cruelty investigators seized 23 dog and other animals from a
    kennel in Lumberton on Monday, where they also discovered the remains
    of 100 dogs and two birds in the yard.  The owner of the kennel, Mary
    Meekins, is being charged with 100 level 2 misdemeanors for failure to
    dispose of the carcasses, punishable by $500 and up to 6 months in jail
    for each offense, and 23 counts of animal cruelty, in addition to
    charges for failure to vaccinate against rabies.

    Seized were:  23 dogs (English Bull Mastiffs, English Bulldogs, English
    Boxers, 2 white boxers, a Rottweiler, a Great Dane, and a mixed breed
    house dog.) 

    The great dane that was seized was weak and extremely malnourished,
    weighing only 55lbs, making it about 80 lbs underweight.

    One of the English Bull Mastiffs seized weighed only about 70 pounds. 
    (Adult English Bull Mastiffs normally weigh between 160-190 lbs).  The
    examining vet states that it had "enough hookworm to kill a cow", and
    had mostly dirt and sand in its bowels, indicating the dog's diet.  The
    dog also suffered from what the vet determined to be burn wounds over a
    large portion of its body and a large wound on its side.

    Additionally, investigators seized a red-tailed boa which is reported
    to be dehydrated, malnourished, and suffering from respiratory
    problems, as well as two cats, a bearded dragon, a horse, and a
    cockatiel that had been spray-painted blue.  The two cats and the
    bearded dragon were reportedly in good condition and appeared healthy.

    Katharine Floyd, one of the animal cruelty investigators on the scene
    expressed deep appreciation for the tremendous outpouring of support
    from the rehab and rescue community.  Because the city does not have
    the vehicles and equipment necessary to handle a seizure of this size,
    a distress call had been put out this past weekend to rescuers and
    rehabilitation organizations, pleading for assistance in the form of
    equipment and manpower.  Ms. Floyd states that rehab and rescue people
    from as far away as 200-300 miles traveled to the site to assist, and
    that people from as far away as New York and California has contacted
    her to see how they could help.  "There is no way this could have been
    done without them," Ms. Floyd said.

    Meekins has run the kennel/breeding facility for years under the names
    Big M Kennels and Big Dog Kennels located on Tom M. Road in Rowland,
    and is listed in the local yellow pages as a pet shop.

    Meekins has been investigated in the past for selling dogs with
    fraudulent pedigree papers.  She used to own 2 monkeys.  When
    questioned last year regarding their whereabouts, she claimed that she
    had sold them, however vet records indicate that she had brought one to
    her veterinarian just this past spring, claiming that she didn't know
    why it had died.  A test reportedly confirmed that the monkey had died
    from malnutrition.

    Her bond was set at $2000 and she was released within 2 hours. 

    Meekins is scheduled to appear at the Robeson County courthouse for her
    first appearance on May 14, 2004.  Court begins at 9AM.

    We are asking that concerned animal advocates write a polite letter to
    the prosecuting attorney and chief judge, urging that these crimes be
    prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, that Meekins be required
    to undergo psychological counseling, and that she never be permitted to
    own animals again.  Additionally, if anyone in the NC area can attend
    her court date on the 14th, it will help send a message to the court
    system that this case should be taken seriously.

    Prosecuting Attorney:
    Johnson Britt

    Chief Judge:
    Hon. Stan Carmichael

    Address:
    Robeson County Courthouse
    500 N. Elm St.
    P.O. Box 1084
    Lumberton, NC 28359-1084


    References
    Robeson County Animal Control
    WWAY-TV


     

     

     

    http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/2261/

     

    Brandy Ralston
    KENS 5 Eyewitness News

    They call themselves dog breeders, but animal activists say it's nothing more than a puppy prison. A place where hundreds of dogs are caged, bred, and sold.

    The problem is many of the dogs sold are winding up in places like the humane society. They’re abandoned, sick and sometimes close to death.

    "A puppy mill is where they put animals on an assembly line to raise puppies for sale," said Dan Garcia, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

    But it's a sight that's becoming all too familiar: dogs, stacked in cages with little food or water.

    "I just can't believe that if you care for animal that you could treat it like this," said Van Zandt constable Pat Jordan.

    But from what the KENS 5 I-Team has uncovered, here in Texas there's nothing to stop people from selling sick dogs.

    "We have a law for everything here, but not this," Assistant Attorney General Aaron Valenzuela said.

    Barbara Prado found that out the hard way.

    After returning her first puppy because it was sick, she then got a second puppy that she thought was okay.

    Two days later she found out the puppy has parvo. By then the 24 hour guarantee had run out.


    "These people have to be stopped," Prado said. "They have to know that their puppies are sick. They have to know.”

    Prado paid $300 to "Puppies R Us", a breeder that according to the attorney general's office has gone by several names and lately has seen several complaints.

    "We have received recently in the last couple of months several complaints," Valenzuela said.

    The USDA actually regulates breeders who sell dogs to pet stores, but if they just sell to individuals, it's different.

    "There's nothing that deals specifically with people selling puppies to individuals," Valenzuela said.

    One such breeder is Jan Straight who owns Melody Ranch Kennels. After the Animal Friends Humane Society told the I-Team they had received several complaints KENS decided to go undercover and check the kennels out.

    While there's plenty of dogs stacked in cages, the I-Team’s undercover member is told that all dogs are guaranteed.

    And when the I-Team member goes back to confront the owner, they are welcomed on to the property.

    “You can see they all have food, they all have water and they're all clean,” the kennel employee said.

    The helper is quick to tell the I-Team the rules.

    Rule number 1: The puppies must be taken to the vet’s within 24 hours after they leave the ranch.

    When asked about the number of dogs in one cage, the answer is clear.

    "I'd rather them be in cages than be on the side of the road dead," they said.

    The humane society cautions that when dealing with a breeder, it's buyer beware.

    "Most of these breeders go just outside the city limits so they're close enough to make the sale, but they fall within this gray area of no enforcement," said James Bias, executive director of the Humane Society of Bexar County.

    Right now 12 states have what's called a puppy lemon law, which basically means if you get a sick puppy the breeder has to either replace the dog or refund the money. But getting a law like that in Bexar County is easier said than done.

    "Bexar County cannot enact a pet lemon law by itself, so it has to come from the state itself," Valenzuela said.

    In the meantime, Bias says the best way to protect yourself is to ask for shot records and always check out the place your puppy's coming from.

    As for Mary Meyers, the owner of Puppies R Us, she has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has refused requests for an on camera interview.

    The owner of the Melody Ranch Kennels, Jan Straight, tells the I-Team she welcomes any regulations to help weed out bad breeders.

    According to the Better Business Bureau and the attorney general there are no complaints on record against Melody Ranch Kennels.

    bralston@kens5.com

    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    Last Update: 05/01/2004 9:32:06 AM
    By: Todd Dukart


    More than two dozen dogs seized from an Albuquerque puppy shop last week are costing the city over $11,000 to care for, and the city wants the puppy shop’s owners to pay the bills.

    The city’s Animal Services seized 27 dogs from the Puppy Patch at Menaul and University on April 23, and then closed the business. The city is taking care of the dogs at its east side animal shelter. Veterinarian bills, food, and shelter costs have reached $11,296, and the tab is still running.

    The city sent letters to the Puppy Patch owners Friday, demanding payment.

    The owners, who were not available for comment Friday night, want the animals back. The city says it will fight that in court.

    “Given the deplorable conditions they were in, how sick they were, that it’s not in the best interest of those animals to return them to the Puppy Patch under any circumstances,” said assistant city attorney Greg Wheeler. He says the owners face 27 counts of animal cruelty.

    The city is still building a case against the business.

    “What we’re doing today is trying to let the public know that if they have bought a sick animal from there or witnessed sick animals there to please call us and let us know,” said Viki Elkey of Animal Protection of New Mexico.

    On Monday night, city councilor Sally Mayer will ask for a moratorium on pet shop permits to encourage people to adopt from shelters.

    ____________________________________----

    Wednesday, May 12, 2004

    Owner of 'puppy mill' charged 59 times
    By KEITH ROYSDON
    kroysdon@thestarpress.com

    MUNCIE - The owner of a rural facility that officials called a "puppy mill" has been charged with 59 counts of animal cruelty.

    Arlene Hoover's Nebo Road facility was raided by police and animal control officers in March after complaints she was keeping 59 Chihuahuas and Miniature Pinschers in a small shed.

    Photos taken by officers show that the dogs' cages were deep with moldy feces. Some dogs had severe dental problems and others had large tumors.

    County Prosecutor Richard Reed said he filed 59 charges against Hoover because he was so disgusted by the dogs' living conditions.

    "I got angry looking at the pictures," Reed said. "They've been inside those little tiny cages their whole lives, and they're not puppies."

    The 59 charges of cruelty to an animal - a class B misdemeanor - were filed in Muncie City Court.

    According to police reports, dogs were in stacked cages. "Under each cage was a tray approximately two inches deep ... completely filled with feces. The feces had been in the trays so long that mold had begun growing."

    Reed said the operation could be characterized as a puppy mill, where dogs are raised in great numbers for commercial sale purposes.

    Hoover could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

    Although animal welfare groups are looking for foster homes for the dogs, Reed believes the dogs might have to be destroyed because they've spent their lives in cages.

    "I'm told they will probably have to be destroyed," Reed said. "They've never been socialized."

    Rebekah Carr of Helping Animals Receive Mercy (HARM) - one of the humane groups that helped officers remove the dogs on March 25 - said the dogs, currently at the Randolph County Animal Shelter, might be placed in foster homes.

    Carr said that people who wanted to take care of the dogs - possibly only until the outcome of Hoover's trial - should contact HARM at 254-HARM or the Unconditional Love Foundation at 287-9043.

    Contact news reporter Keith Roysdon at 213-5828.