Hoarded Hounds
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| 7/30/2010 |
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| Dozens of dogs are on their way to recovery after they were rescued from a trailer in Greene County, Indiana. An anonymous tip led investigators to the unlicensed shelter. They are cute and cuddly, but for many of the dogs and puppies, it`s the first time in a long time they`ve been able to stretch their four legs. "It kind of breaks your heart when you see it," said Dr. Michael Staub, veterinarian. It`s heartbreaking for the volunteers who are now caring for about 70 dogs and pups rescued from hard to imagine conditions. "The trailer is stripped down to plywood floors. It looks like they`ve put bigger dogs behind chain link walls and it looks like they retrofitted their trailer to do that," said Sarah Hayes, Monroe County Humane Society. The animals from Greene County were brought to a temporary shelter in Monroe County after an anonymous tip led investigators to what they call a mission-type hoarding shelter. "It`s an illness," said Hayes, referring to the people who kept the animals in those conditions. "I see it a lot with cats. I don`t think I`ve ever seen a dog situation like this," said Staub. Investigators say the owners thought they were helping the animals they collected off the street, and from breeders. Their plan was to open a rescue shelter, but their intentions did more harm than good. Many of the dogs were well fed, but not vaccinated. They are being treated for respiratory illnesses and fleas. Animal shelter workers found "a lot of parasites, hook work, round worm." Some of the animals were not even a week old. "Yesterday they had heat stroke and a temperature of 104. We had to get them to the emergency room. They all made it," said Megan Ginley, volunteer coordinator. All of the animals are now in good hands and in their own cages. They`ll soon available for adoption. "We know we got them out of bad situation but we know they`ll make it and live a happy life," said Ginley. The owners won`t face charges. The hope is instead to get them help as well. "You do want charges brought, some sort of recourse but you just have to go back to this is an illness," said Hayes. Investigators wouldn`t tell us the location or names of the owners because they are trying to work with them. The dogs are being sent to shelters in Indiana and other nearby states. |
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