SPCA makes an exception and delivers a happy ending
By Kelli Ohrtman: Best Friends NetworkAnother reason to support Puppy Mill Awareness Day! The following recent account is of a rescue from a purportedly "good breeder". Puppy Mill Awareness Day helps raise awareness and money to expose commercial breeders for what they are!
To check out the Puppy Mill Awareness Day website click herePuppy Mill Awareness Day is Sept 15th in Lancaster County, PA, but you can hold your own event, for details check out their website.
The Horrors of "Reputable Breeders" ExposedOn August 30th, authorities followed up on a complaint and went to Pickett’s Pride, an American Bulldog breeder’s property in north Houston, Texas. What they found was appalling even to the most seasoned humane investigators. More than 30 dogs were found dead, some still in their kennels, while the rest had been starved down to skeletons. The dogs were taken into protective custody by the Houston SPCA.
Julie Castle, Best Friends Director of Community Programs and Services said, “This situation represents the lowest form of business greed; it’s nothing more than exploiting and abusing animals for money and profit.” In the past year alone, dozens of situations similar to this have been discovered across the country. Julie added, “It's a tragedy. Anyone who cares about the well being of animals should spread the word to adopt and rescue, rather than supporting puppy mills and bad breeders by purchasing animals.”
The breeders, Ed Pickett and Kathy Drobina, could not be located at the time of the seizure, but Drobina arrived in court last week at a hearing to determine whether the SPCA would get permanent custody of the dogs. She was charged with animal cruelty and arrested after the civil hearing, and custody of the 10 cats and 47 dogs was awarded to the Houston SPCA.
SPCA Makes an ExceptionThe
Houston SPCA has a policy not to adopt out American Bulldogs to the public, but in this very sad case, they made an exception. On Friday, September 14th, the surviving dogs will travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, where they will finally find a safe haven with Las Vegas Wrinkle Rescue. Candy, the group’s co-director said, “I can’t say enough about the SPCA because they’ve gone over and above any of their laws and bylaws to get us these dogs.” Sadly, many of the dogs had multiple and life-threatening health problems and coupled with the severe emaciation, the decision was made to humanely euthanize some of the dogs at the shelter.
The dogs deemed healthy enough will make the long trip on Friday. Foster families eagerly await the dogs so deserving of a loving home. Candy said that in addition to regular vet care, “I have trainers that are going to help us keep up on evaluations, and will go to the foster homes once a week to check on them.”
She wants to make sure at every step of the way that the dogs are handled responsibly. As a long time lover of American Bulldogs, she added that the SPCA’s decision in this case was, “A good step for our breed.”
A website has been set up specifically to follow these dogs and their progress. Visit
www.savehoustonsbulldogs.com to read more about the dogs, and to learn how you can help them.
What You Can DoLas Vegas Wrinkle Rescue is a small, dedicated organization (run by just two people, plus foster homes). They are grateful for all the help they get from the community and from American Bulldog lovers everywhere. To learn how you can help too, visit their website:
www.lvwrinklerescue.comThey can also use:Leashes
Beds
Dog Food—Blue Buffalo or any high quality food (available at PetCo or PetSmart)
Gift cards or certificates for PetCo or PetSmart
Dog Toys
Photos provided by Las Vegas Wrinkle RescueClick here to watch video of the seizure from Fox 26 news.* (Warning, graphic footage).
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A footnote about Pickett’s PridePickett’s Pride has been well-known to American Bulldog enthusiasts in the past, including in the dog show circuit. Some dogs bred there have earned
champion titles. No one but the breeders themselves know how things got so bad. Below is a photo of one of the dogs in better days, and from August 30th, the day she was rescued by the Houston SPCA.
