An eye-witness report of the hell that exists in puppy
mills from a member of the Humane Society Rescue Team. If you live in North Carolina, please call your representative about getting anti- puppy mill legislation passed... and if you live in Wayne County, please make some calls to make sure these animals find a good end.

Yesterday our team conducted its first puppy mill raid of 2009. Thanks to our combined efforts 283 dogs have been delivered from unimaginable suffering into a world of compassion that was unimaginable to them
only 24 hours ago.
This case was brought to our attention by Wayne County Animal Control, which had been investigating Thornton's Kennels for over a year. They were dedicated to shutting down this mill, which had been in operation for more than 35 years, and we were honored to partner with them to make it happen. One call to The HSUS and the wheels were set in motion to end the decades-long cycle of abuse.

An HSUS investigator and I came out days before the raid to assist Wayne County in gathering the last bits of evidence necessary to seize these dogs. Once all of the pieces were in place we wasted no time in kicking down the door of this horrific facility. Our team joined with
local officials to raid the puppy mill Friday morning just after sunrise.

From the moment we stepped foot on the property we were surrounded by a sea of misery. The dogs were housed in tiny rusted-out wire cages stacked on top of one another in barns and outhouses. While conditions
in puppy mills are always jarring it was especially disgusting to see so many geriatric breeding mothers. These dogs are bred over and over again for years on end until they collapse under the strain. They are at the complete mercy of the mill owners, who view them only as a factory machine.

Because of their advanced age these dogs were even more broken-down than most that we rescue. Their matted fur was caked with fecal matter and many suffered from severe skin and eye infections. Others had gum disease that ate away at their jaws and rotted their teeth. When examining these dogs it was obvious that they had never received proper veterinary care or socialization.

One of the first dogs that we removed was a small shih-tzu who was nursing a very young puppy. This dog weighed no more than five pounds, but wore a heavy metal chain around her neck so tight it cut into her skin. Her eyes were fused shut by an infection. Even though she was unable to see and in obvious pain she would not leave her helpless pup. This dog had probably been confined to a cage for years churning out puppies for the profit of the mill owner.
Our ultimate reward came in the moment that one of the veterinarians began treating her eyes and she was able to see her pup for the very first time. Her first instinct was to immediately inspect her days-old
puppy and clean her from tip to tail. The full extent of her mothering instincts became evident to everyone the next day.
In the middle of the night one of the young puppies went into distress. His mother was too sick to care for her entire litter, and rejected him. I am sure we would have lost him if not for the swift action of our vet techs Chris and Kelly. They warmed him and bottle fed him throughout the night. By the next afternoon he had perked up considerably but his mother still would not nurse him. This is when our technicians thought of the once-blind dog who was so devoted to her lone pup. They placed the orphaned puppy by her side and within
minutes he was happily suckling next to his adopted sister. These are the little victories that carry us through long days and sleepless nights.

I am extremely relieved that we have delivered all of these animals from the living hell of their former lives, but I am frustrated that North Carolina lacks laws addressing puppy mills. Amanda Arrington, North Carolina state director for The HSUS, is hopeful that this will soon change. This bust will help her get the support she needs to introduce legislation designed to mandate regulation and inspection of
large-scale breeders throughout the state. Amanda will continue to build off of our work here to affect the lives of thousands of dogs in North Carolina puppy mills.

Yesterday a small army of selfless individuals came together as a untied pillar of compassion to carry 283 lives into the light of hope. While it is estimated that there are approximately 10,000 puppy mills
in the United States there is one less tonight because of this amazing team, which was comprised of local volunteers, veterinarians and technicians from across the state and members of United Animal Nations
and PetSmart Charities.
But the journey is just beginning for the animals liberated from Thornton's Kennels. A preliminary hearing will be held on Tuesday during which the custody of these dogs should be decided. All of our
animal handlers and veterinarians are compiling meticulous evidentiary records to present to the judge next week. We are hopeful that the dogs will be placed in the custody of Wayne County Animal Control.
This would allow the animals to begin their rehabilitation process and make their way to the loving family homes they were always meant to have.

Light of Hope
by Scotlund Haisley