Update on the massive dog seizure in Southern Arizona

[Fridays Child]

Dogs rescued from 'puppy mill' available for adoption (with video)

About 40 small dogs seized from an Avra Valley home are available for adoption, a Humane Society spokeswoman said Thursday morning.

In all 752 dogs, mostly chihuahuas, were taken from what officials called a “puppy mill” in the 12200 block of West Manville Road.

The ones available for adoption today were seized on Monday, said Jenny Rose, a spokeswoman for the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. About 400 to 500 of the dogs are being housed at the Humane Society’s Companions for Life Center at 3465 E. Kleindale Road, because it’s shelter on North Kelvin Boulevard is full.

Caring for a dog usually costs the Humane Society about $200 until it gets adopted, Rose said. But she estimated the cost of the chihuahuas to be much higher because of the medical attention each dog required and the overtime costs for employees looking after the animals.

More

If you'd like to contribute a little something to the Southern Arizona Humane Society to help them cope with this crisis, here's their web site:

Humane Society of Southern Arizona

[Robeson]

1. Please don't forget to post this in the Pets Group and Animal Rights Group....

...

Pets Group...http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=243

Animal Rights Group...http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=231

[Fridays Child]

2. I'll cross-post it.

[Robeson]

4. Thanks...

...:thumbsup:

[Drum]

3. Unreal. 752 dogs??

:wow:

[Fridays Child]

5. Some were actually giving birth, as they were being transported to the Humane Society.

eom

[dweller]

6. that's only 98.6

in dog personal space, including the chihuahuas.

dp

[Drum]

7. I haven't read all up on this

(yet) but there seems to be a glaring question: if this place was a "mill" or place where things are produced for sale, why did they have such a ridiculously large "inventory?" In addition to the obviously terrible situation for the dogs, the people running this sound utterly stupid in addition to being cruel.
:(

[Frustratedlady]

14. In one article I read, it said that people who get caught in this situation

are the type that don't feel anyone else can take good enough care, so they keep them and it gets out of hand. I believe that's an understatement.

I can't even imagine.

[Drum]

16. good gawd.

out of hand for sure!

[Fridays Child]

19. At this point, the authorities think that the owners originally intended...

...to breed dogs—chihuahuas, in particular—for sale. But they began to hoard the animals, instead of selling them. Animal hoarding is a variation of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anyway, because it doesn't appear that they were running a puppy mill, no charges have been filed, so far. But that could change.

[Ima]

21. no not cruel

As I understand it they are an elderly couple that had the dogs. They probably started out with a breeding pair to supplement their income. Then they fell in love with a couple puppies and kept them.

Without doing the math, I'd guess once you have ten female dogs it wouldn't take long to have hundreds of puppies; plus the dogs are so little and cute.


I have had some nice animals, still do, but I always have them fixed, because there would be to much temptation to keep their offspring.

I do hope the old folk can keep a couple dogs that are fixed.

[bluedawg12]

8. Thank you for posting this.

I have adopted 2 doggers and 4 cats over the years- and care for my 87 y.o. moms 5 cats- that she rescued.

But I can always spare a few dollars.

I am glad you posted this- the word get's around the internet quickly and people can help and make a difference.

[Fridays Child]

15. You're very welcome! And that's what I'm hoping...

...that this story will spread around. Even if they can't contribute, maybe readers here will post the information at other sites. The cost of caring for these dogs could absolutely crush the local humane society chapter in Tucson.

[lonestarnot]

9. K & R

[undeterred]

10. ok they weren't massive dogs but a massive number of dogs

:hi:

[Fridays Child]

11. Pick, pick, pick!

:P

And they weren't Mastiffs, either. Lots of Chihuahuas, though. My business partner lives in the area and she's considering adopting one of the rescued dogs—maybe a pup.

[bluedawg12]

13. Irony: the opposite of massive: Chihuahuas! LOL

Those little dogs are very cute.

[bluedawg12]

12. I just passed the word via the net-

and asked friends there to pass the word- we can make a difference.

BTW- the dogs are really cute.

I'm posting the pic below just for a smile and giggle-

[Fridays Child]

17. Holy leaping cows!

Thanks for spreading the word! :hi:

[bluedawg12]

18. You are very welcome!

[gaspee]

20. 700 Dogs?

Holy shit! I feel guilty sometimes if I think I'm not giving each of my 7 dogs enough individual attention. I couldn't imagine having 700 dogs!

[Fridays Child]

22. It was probably a sight to behold. From what I read...

...many of them were inside a double-wide mobile home.