Humane Organizations Help West Virginia

Authorities Raid Puppy Mill

PARKERSBURG, W. Va. (Aug. 24, 2008) - One thousand dogs saved from a Parkersburg, W. Va. puppy mill are now on their way to better lives thanks to the diligent efforts of local authorities and local and national humane organizations.

"It is extremely gratifying to know that our efforts will bring comfort and hope to 1,000 animals that spent their whole lives in darkness and despair," said Maryann Hollis, executive director of the Humane Society of Parkersburg. "But we would not have been able to save all of these dogs without the help of United Animal Nations, Best Friends Animal Society, the Humane Society of Missouri and The Humane Society of the United States."

Members of the Wood County Sheriff's department and County Prosecuting Attorney Ginny Conley had received complaints that the property owner was discharging pollution without a permit. When they arrived on the scene to investigate these claims they found a grossly overrun breeding facility wrought with obvious animal neglect.

"While these were not the worst conditions I have ever witnessed, it is impossible for anyone to properly care for 1,000 dogs," said Ginny Conley, Wood County prosecuting attorney.

Once on the scene local authorities were able to convince the property owner to surrender ownership of all 1,000 dogs. The Humane Society of Parkersburg immediately called in United Animal Nations, Best Friends Animal Society, the Humane Society of Missouri and The Humane Society of the United States for assistance. All organizations involved have banded together to assist with the removal of the approximately 1,000 dogs and oversee the emergency shelter where all of the animal will be housed while they await their next destination.

The dogs were predominately dachshunds, but many Yorkies, King Charles Cavaliers and Poodles were also bred at the facility. All of the dogs were housed in dilapidated sheds spread throughout the rural property - some without access to fresh water. These dogs, like all animals bred in puppy mills, lacked proper veterinary care or even basic socialization. But these resilient little animals are already beginning to perk up under the care of their temporary guardians at the emergency shelter. Thankfully they will soon be taken in by humane organizations around the region, evaluated and put up for adoption.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

 If you are interested in donating blankets or funds or would like to help with placement of these dogs, contact A Forever Home, www.aforeverhome.org at (703)961-8690 or  the Humane Society of Parkersburg, www.hsop.org at (304) 422-5541.

The rescuers in this case were struck by the large number of dogs and the impossibility of caring for so many. Now is a good time to call on West Virginia House members and senators  to pass state laws, or local county and city officials to pass ordinances or required conditional use permits that limit the commercial breeding and improve conditions in these mills: (a) limit the number of dogs used for commercial breeding as Virginia and Louisiana did this past year, (b) limit the number of dogs that can be sold each year, (c) ban inbreeding, (d) limit the ages dogs can be bred, (e) limit the number of times a dog can be bred each year, (f) require that dogs must stay with their mothers until they are at least 8-10 weeks old, (g) require record keeping, (h) require sufficient staff to care for the animals, (i) improve conditions, (j) ban ear cropping, debarking, tail docking and surgical birthing without a veterinarian using anesthesia; (k) require unannounced inspections, (l) require fire prevention plans, (m) require compliance with laws regarding disposal of waste and dead bodies; (n) declare that violations constitute a public nuisance, (o) do background checks and get  violators and animal abusers out of the business of commercial breeding; (p) provide consumer protection, (q) provide for seizure and impoundment of the animals, liens for their care and forfeiture of property as well as animals, and (r) broaden enforcement powers to include other state and local agencies and private animal welfare organizations and even in some cases private citizens.