Over 750 Dogs discovered: Breeder/Hoarder in Arizona

March 13, 2008 : 3:05 PM

Update--All dogs are now in homes!

Main photo: Used with permission from the Arizona Daily Star

UPDATE: March 17--All dogs have been adopted from the Humane Society of Southern Arizona! To read the update,click here.

Earlier updates:
1.) Shelter overwhelmed: Click here
2.) Some dogs will be available for adoption this week. Shelter seeking monetary donations for medical care: Click here

On Monday authorities seized several hundred Chihuahuas and other small breed dogs from a commercial breeder in the Avra Valley near Tucson. The Humane Society of Southern Arizona took 96 dogs on Monday, and rescued the remaining animals on Wednesday. The organization estimates there are 600-750 dogs. The full story is available at www.azstarnet.com

A woman who had bought a dog from the facility brought the animal to the vet for kennel cough and said she had seen several hundred animals on the property. The vet encouraged her make a report to the Sheriff’s Department.

Pima County Sheriff’s Department deputies found many dogs in cages and many roaming free on the property and inside the couple’s trailer. There were also 36 exotic birds discovered in the home. Deputies described the conditions as “filthy,” saying there were feces and urine everywhere. Several dogs were dead, and some were missing paws.

The owners of the breeding operation have advertised pets for sale on the Internet; their site currently says, “Thank you for your past support,” and offers no dogs for sale. The couple is reported to be cooperating with the authorities. The Pima County attorney will decide whether to press charges when the Sheriff’s Department has completed its investigation.

The Humane Society has cleared out its Companions for Life center, usually used for training and education, to make room for the dogs. The dogs are not yet available for adoption, as veterinary examinations are pending.

Best Friends will provide updates as they become available

What you can do
1.) Tell everyone you know to never, ever buy a pet online or from a pet store
2.) To assist the Humane Society of Southern Arizona (a private, nonprofit organization), with the 700+ dogs now in their care, go to the section of their website dedicated to this case: http://www.hssaz.org/news_chihuahua_rescue.html
3.) Free up space at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona! Adopt a pet not associated with the case. Look at Rosie, a female terrier, who is waiting for a home (click photo for more information about Rosie)

By Ann Anderson: Best Friends Network Volunteer
Photo: by Chuck DeVito (not associated with the Avra Valley case)

Comments

March 25, 2008 at 11:15 AM
posted by: neesie

Daisy, one of the dogs, just came in to the clinic where I work for her checkup. She's a very sweet dog and hopefully will come out of her shell in her new great home. I know we'll be seeing more of these babies in the future.

March 17, 2008 at 5:56 PM
posted by: cattees

Happy tears for the lucky Chi's in the video. And what an amazing young man... the world needs more like him!

March 17, 2008 at 2:35 PM
posted by: kittychump

carriefosters I'm with you - I have to keep taking those "deep breaths" - but, I think those just fuel the fire sometimes! Your passion carries you through too, eh? Saying these folks are just "elderly"/etc. is an INSULT to my darling departed parents and all true ANIMAL-LOVING elders!!!!

By the way - folks - feel free to visit my new BF blog - it's for folks to talk about how we cope with our feelings about fighting exploiter-hoarders. Here's the link:

http://network.bestfriends.org/Blogs/Detail.aspx?b=1822

And here's the link to my new Yahoo Groups website re: our legal case:

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/cats_who_need_justice/

Bless everyone who is fighting these exploiter/breeders and exploiter/hoarders!!!

March 16, 2008 at 8:45 PM
posted by: bogiedew

How sweet was that little boy that got the dog for his b-day?? Thanks for sharing the video!

March 16, 2008 at 6:15 PM
posted by: MartiL

This is a wonderful CNN video showing the ones available for adoption: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/03/16/rathbun.chihuahua.mania.kvoa

March 14, 2008 at 9:27 PM
posted by: judylew

Marin county Humane Society (in No Calif) is taking 150 of the teacup chihuahuas. They should be arriving today or tomorrow. I was shocked when I heard about the story on my local news this morning. Sounds as bad as Pahrump! FLOCK meant well, too. How I wish these puppy mills could be outlawed.

March 14, 2008 at 2:31 PM
posted by: carrie_fosters

Hooray for Maine! May we one day soon all live up to your standards.

March 14, 2008 at 2:22 PM
posted by: catmominme

I agree. There was a breeder/abuser/hoarder situation here in Maine and Maine's laws are harsh against abusers....the breeder was told by the court that they had to PAY thousands of dollars for the local shelters to take care of the dogs while they were in court.

If the NATION'S laws were at least as tough as Maine's we'd be off to a better start.

March 13, 2008 at 11:53 PM
posted by: mimi

They "meant well" is what people say when they don't want the money-grubbing perpetrators, or the perpetrators' friends, getting on their case about being harsh toward these allegedly poor, sad individuals.

As for the real victims, well, they don't have voices, do they, to cry out their pain and abuse? They don't have friends to be their advocates and rescue them from the "meant well" lie. rmlamasney25 is right: we have a long way to go.

WIll the Pima County now attorney step up and bring charges, or will he or she count on "meant well" and the victims having no voice? I don't want the perpetrators to go to jail; I want their money. I want their money to pay for the loving care of each and every animal until adoption. And I want their money to pay for their own monitoring by authorities to ensure that they never so much as look at another dog.

March 13, 2008 at 10:44 PM
posted by: neesie

I live about an hour south of Tucson and heard about this at my work (a veterinary hospital). The Humane Society here desperately needs money and supplies to help them care for these dogs. Also if anyone you know is looking for a small dog, many will be up for adoption. A local chihuahua rescue I believe took a lot of the chihuahuas.
I know any help at all would be greatly appreciated!

March 13, 2008 at 5:47 PM
posted by: rmlamasney25

kennel cough. filth. dead dogs, missing paws. "Meant well"?!!!! What do you have to do to be abusive, then? We have a long way to go.... :(

March 13, 2008 at 3:28 PM
posted by: cattees

You've nothing to apologize for, Carrie.

March 13, 2008 at 3:26 PM
posted by: carrie_fosters

From a story on KVOA Tucson's website:

"Sgt. Ogden adds that it appears the couple meant well, but were overwhelmed in trying to care for the animals."

They meant well, Sgt. Ogden? Really? They were selling these puppies on the internet (for YEARS) for up to $2400 each! There were an unimaginable number of dogs and birds there! There were sick and dead dogs there! They were living in filth! There were dogs with missing paws, either from other dogs gnawing on them or from being stuck in their cage wire! Where in all of this do you see good intentions, Sgt. Ogden?

Okay, Carrie . . . take a few deep breaths. Sorry folks, I just hope that Sgt. Ogden has a very limited role in this case if that is his attitude. These "poor, elderly" (sixties is elderly?) people need to be seen as the sick and greedy people they are.