Mountaintop Natural Pets

Source:  wset.com, May 26, 2010

Bedford County authorities say they’ve dealt a huge blow to a national dog fighting ring by locking up one of its top breeders.

The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that they arrested Jeffrey Denny, 36, of North Carolina in an undercover sting at the Exxon in Montvale Monday night.

Denny was there to sell a female pit bull and planned on driving to Charleston, West Virginia to sell another dog, authorities say.

He has been charged with two counts of transporting animals for the purpose of fighting.

Investigators say Denny has delivered dogs all over the country, and they believe he’s responsible for hundreds of dog fighting deaths.

The good news is the two dogs taken from him are now in an animal shelter, saved from a life of violence.

Deputies say he has a reputation for breeding good fighting pit bulls.

“Mr. Denny is a nationally known and admitted dog fighter,” Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown said. “He’s acknowledged that he’s sold hundreds of game-bred dogs throughout the United States.”

Investigators seized Denny’s mini-van, rigged to transport multiple dogs. These dogs were going for $900 apiece. The business of dog fighting is reported to be a multi-million dollar industry.

“And not too many of them put in 1099s to the IRS,” Brown said with a laugh.

The US Humane Society says they’ve had Denny at the top of their watch list for months.

“He’s been a long-standing breeder of dogs that are for the purpose of fighting,” US Humane Society Cruelty Investigator Chris Schindler said.

They’re certain word of his arrest will get around.

“It’s this effort that’s going to send a ripple effect cross the country to other animal fighters that this crime is not going to be tolerated,” Schindler said.

And they say the goal is to save the lives of dogs.

“Save possibly hundreds and hundreds of other dogs from being maimed and killed in the most gruesome way,” Brown said.

Authorities in Randolph County, North Carolina also seized 16 pit bulls from Denny’s home. They’ve charged him with 16 counts of dog fighting and 11 counts of cruelty to animals.

Source: Media-newswire.com

Scores of new complaints from heartbroken puppy buyers are streaming in to The Humane Society of the United States after Animal Planet Investigates: Petland premiered Monday night. In the one-hour special, Animal Planet followed HSUS investigators as they tracked down puppy mills that supply Petland stores. The expose also featured tragic stories from several buyers who discovered their puppies were ill. After the airing, The HSUS began receiving additional complaints from across the U.S. about Petland puppies with severe congenital disorders and diseases like parvovirus and pneumonia. At least two people reported the awful news that their puppies died the day after they were purchased.

“The stories are heartbreaking,” says Stephanie Shain, senior director of The HSUS’s puppy mills campaign, who was interviewed for the special. “But as heartbreaking as the reports are, we are encouraged to know that the show will help warn potential puppy buyers never to buy a puppy from a pet store or from any seller whose operation they haven’t personally visited and screened.”

Excerpts from some of the heartbroken families’ stories include the following:

“I can not begin to describe the heartbreak and emotional turmoil we went through with the death of [our puppy ….] It was horrible on our entire family. Weeks of unanswered and unreturned phone calls from the Petland owner, crying kids, crying mom, no puppy at Christmas time…” – Stephanie, El Paso, Texas

“I bought my beautiful little Havanese puppy, took him home for five days, and fell in love with him. He became ill on the fifth day with vomiting and diarrhea, was hospitalized, diagnosed with Canine parvovirus which was incubating in the puppy when I purchased him, as confirmed to me by the hospital. He died after 5 days of treatment for this terrible and highly contagious virus. We are heartbroken.” – Janet, Bronxville, N.Y.

“Petland told us she was from a good breeder, we even had her certificate of registry, and that there were no genetic problems or health problems. The vet prescribed Mindy drops and ointments to take several times a day, but it wasn’t working and her left eye was looking worse, so we took her to a specialist. She needed surgery right away that cost us $2,500 dollars. They saved her eye but now she has monthly appointments and medications that come to about 250 dollars a month, she will need these treatments for the rest of her life.” – Christina, Tucson, Ariz.

“Normally, I would NEVER buy from a pet store, but I went to [a Petland store] to purchase bird food for my brother’s birds every few weeks and Little Red was in one of those tiny cages and I watched her grow until she could no longer sit upright in the cage. I couldn’t leave her there – she looked so sad. Within a few days, she developed a limp. She had bilateral hip dysplasia. In fact, according to the vet – she had the worst dysplasia he had ever seen in all his years of practice. Both hips were completely disarticulated. Surgery was not an option due to the degree of malformation of both the hip sockets and heads of her femurs. The vet said there was no way the breeder didn’t know this condition was present in his dogs.” – Melissa, Poteet, Texas

“I had asked time and time again if the dogs today are from puppy mills and the employee expressed over and over that their company may have received puppy’s from mills back then, but DO NOT deal with any form of puppy mills today. This was assured to me after explaining my previous history and concern with Petland. […]Frustrating and expensive is what this clearance puppy has been to our family. We will do the best we can, but none of it is surprising to me anymore!” – Amy, Park Ridge, Ill.

“Sadly I learned a hard lesson. I had heard from people before tell me ‘oh don’t buy from pet stores’ but I felt like oh no my husband did business with [the pet store owner] Peter and he assured us he buys from breeders, I guess you just don’t expect to be lied to, everything he said in the Animal Planet Investigation were a lot of the same things he told us. I’m very sickened that he would cover up where the dogs really come from and make up lies.” – Christina, Tucson, Ariz.

The HSUS urges consumers who have purchased a sick puppy or who want to report a puppy mill to share their concerns with The HSUS at humanesociety.org/puppymillstory.

Source: wowt.com, Feb 19, 2010

An Omaha woman is facing a felony charge of animal cruelty. The Nebraska Humane Society released the disturbing details Friday Morning.

NHS says 32-year-old Yolanda Y. Glover of 4040 Curtis Avenue was arrested Friday morning by the Metro Fugitive Task Force. Thursday afternoon a judge set her bond at $10,000 meaning she’ll have to come up with $1000 cash to get out of jail.

Mark Langan with the Nebraska Humane Society says, ” We had to dismantle the dog house to get the dog out.”

The German shepherd found frozen to the floor of his dog house. An examination showed the dog named ‘Tramp’ died of starvation and hypothermia.

“Obviously, the two weeks the dog was outside did not treat him well. Dogs need to be fed, given water and properly sheltered and this dog didn’t have any of those resulting in a very grisly death for this animal.”

A conviction for felony animal cruelty could put her in jail for five years but rarely does this charge lead to that. In the last five years, only one person in the metro, Anthony Schepis, has received substantial jail time for animal cruelty according to the Nebraska Humane Society. Schepis received two years in prison for beating to death his German shepherd puppy in 2006. He died in prison.

The Humane Society had seen the German shepherd before. It was back in November of 2009 and he was healthy. That’s when the same owner was ticketed for not having a license on either of her 2 dogs.

“She does have another dog,” says Langan. “It was checked today by Omaha Police who served warrants. The dog appears to be in good shape. It looks like an indoor dog so weather conditions don’t come into play with that dog.”

Investigators learned of the frozen dog from an anonymous tip on February 1.

Source: kktv.com, Feb 7, 2010

The American Humane Association’s animal emergency responders loaded 34 seized dogs from a suspected puppy mill in Olive Branch Miss., onto a plane on Sunday.

The plane is operated by Denver’s Pet Airways and they’re the ones who flew them to New York ASPCA’s (American Society for the Prevention to Cruelty to Animals) headquarters for adoption.

This is a culmination of five days of working together with the Marshall County Humane Society after 95 dogs and one cat were removed from the property of a suspected puppy mill.

They discovered dogs living in feces-encrusted pens and filth. They include small breeds, such as Shih Tzus, Lhasa apsos, pugs, Yorkshire terriers, corgis, and Chihuahuas.

Manny Maciel, an animal handler volunteering with American Humane’s Red Star Animal Emergency Services™, said that many dogs appeared underweight and appear to have skin problems, among other medical conditions.

Several dead adult dogs and puppies were found.

Also on the scene with the ASPCA and American Humane, personnel from Marshall County Humane Society, Mississippi State University and Collierville (Tenn.) Humane Society were removing and transporting animals to an emergency shelter site at the Marshall County Humane Society Clinic in Byhalia, Miss.

They were triaged by a veterinary team and temporarily sheltered before being transferred to other animal welfare agencies and ultimately made available for adoption. These are the last of the 34 dogs to be transferred.

“Collaboration among animal welfare groups, such as this effort between American Humane and the ASPCA — both national organizations — as well as several local organizations, is an effective way to address the needs of animals in situations like puppy mills and other emergencies,” said Debrah Schnackenberg, vice president of American Humane’s Animal Protection Division and director of its Animal Emergency Services. “Together, we can respond quickly, assemble the best resources, and provide the necessary treatment and care to help get these animals on the road to recovery and into the new, loving homes they all deserve.”

The investigation was set into motion after local officials contacted the ASPCA several weeks ago. The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, led by Sheriff Kenny Dickerson, served a warrant, along with Sgt. Kelly McMillan, Investigators Gary Byrd and David Pannell, and Officer Tracy Jefferies. Charges against the puppy mill’s owners are currently pending, but the dogs have been signed over to the ASPCA.

Puppy mills are large-scale breeding operations where animals often live in filthy conditions that foster disease, and frequently suffer from neglect and the absence of veterinary care. Adult dogs are bred excessively and often spend their entire lives in small runs or cages. For the puppies, neglect of emotional needs due to lack of socialization, isolation and the trauma of transportation at an early age is a serious problem. In addition, ignorance or indifference to good breeding practices often results in dogs with genetic problems, and puppy mills add to the already critical problem of pet overpopulation.
American Humane seeks to eliminate puppy mills through enforcement of current laws and regulations, enactment of legislation, and public education to eliminate the market for such animals.

For more information about puppy mills and how to fight animal cruelty, please visit www.americanhumane.org/protecting-animals.

Find us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/americanhumane and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/americanhumane.

The information contained in this release can be reused and posted with proper credit given to the American Humane Association.

Source: Pennlive.com, Jan 6, 2010

The Humane Society of the United States is offering up to $2,500 for information that would lead to the identification, arrest and conviction of those responsible for a wounded and dead pit bull found alongside a Hampden Township walking trail on Dec. 29.

A resident found the wounded dog near the Conodoguinet Creek wrapped in two blue dog jackets. The 5-year-old dog had suffered broken legs, a broken foot, a broken trachea and many scratches and cuts, according to the Humane Society. Though the reasons for her death are unknown, the injuries were consistent with dogfighting, according to the Humane Society.

After initial reports, a jogger told the Humane Society he saw a man on the trail that day with several dogs. He was described as about 6 feet 2 inches to 6 feet 4 inches tall with medium blond hair and round glasses, and is considered a person of interest.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Humane Society at 717-564-3320, ext. 104.

Source: Jacksonville.com, October 11, 2009

It’s been two days and Jacksonville’s Animal Care and Protective Services officials are still cutting matted fur off abused dogs and cats. They expect to still be grooming the rescued pets — covered in feces and other filth — for the next few days.

Animal control services removed 47 dogs and 15 cats Thursday from a Southside home that they suspect was a puppy mill.

Now officials are dealing with the aftermath: building evidence for a criminal case and nursing the animals back to health.

Many of the cats and dogs have serious medical problems and were living in squalor, said Scott Trebatoski, chief of animal care for the city.

One dog was found with a damaged eye that veterinarians had to remove, he said Saturday. Another has cataracts and can’t see. One cat has an upper respiratory disorder, while another is missing part of one limb.

Nearly every room of the large Baymeadows Road home was filled with urine and feces, Trebatoski said. He said that it appeared that some of the pets were trying to avoid urinating because the surroundings were too bad even for four-legged creatures.

Trebatoski said his staff has its hands full working through the weekend to bathe, groom and medically treat the animals. Some might not be ready to be adopted for several weeks.

Many of the dogs are being shaved from head to tail, he said. While shaving one dog, staff found pieces of metal stuck in its fur.

Trebatoski said the scene was typical of what investigators find at puppy mill sites. Pets are usually jammed into small spaces and forced to breed. The puppies are usually sold quickly for a profit and are in good condition, but the breeding animals are often in poor health.

Michelle Gilliam, senior public relations manager for the Jacksonville Humane Society, said officials were made aware of the case and offered their help in any way.

Gilliam said the Humane Society isn’t against people buying dogs from a breeder, but customers should do their research so they aren’t supporting a puppy mill operation.

“We encourage people to adopt from reputable organizations, whether it’s a shelter or rescue home or a reputable breeder,” she said. “I can’t speak to this specific case, but we want to be sure that wherever people get their pets that they are being treated in a humane way.”

Animal Care and Protective Services is working with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on the criminal investigation. Trebatoski said it’s likely that criminal charges will be filed against the homeowners, who had not been identified.

An anonymous tip prompted the investigation Thursday.

One neighbor, Mark New, told First Coast News he had no idea there was a suspected puppy mill next door.

“If it’s true, it’s unfortunate,” he said. “That’s why you don’t have that many pets; that is way too many pets to have.”

Source: KOAT.com, October 12, 2009

Detectives need your help to keep a South Valley dogfighting investigation from going cold. They are offering cash to help generate tips.

Last month, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office busted a dogfighting operation in a southwest Albuquerque home.

Officers arrested six people, but investigators said there were at least 40 people there that night.

Investigators said most of the activity was caught on cell phone cameras, but that little of that video has surfaced.

“We know it was filmed. So, if you can bring us something, even if it was from the past, it can help us out a lot from this point forward,” said Det. Amy Dudewicz, Bernalillo Co. Sheriff’s Office.

There is a reward of up to $5,000 for information in this case.

Call 877-5-HUMANE if you have information. Tips can remain anonymous.

Source: Jacksonville.com, October 11, 2009

It’s been two days and Jacksonville’s Animal Care and Protective Services officials are still cutting matted fur off abused dogs and cats. They expect to still be grooming the rescued pets — covered in feces and other filth — for the next few days.

Animal control services removed 47 dogs and 15 cats Thursday from a Southside home that they suspect was a puppy mill.

Now officials are dealing with the aftermath: building evidence for a criminal case and nursing the animals back to health.

Many of the cats and dogs have serious medical problems and were living in squalor, said Scott Trebatoski, chief of animal care for the city.

One dog was found with a damaged eye that veterinarians had to remove, he said Saturday. Another has cataracts and can’t see. One cat has an upper respiratory disorder, while another is missing part of one limb.

Nearly every room of the large Baymeadows Road home was filled with urine and feces, Trebatoski said. He said that it appeared that some of the pets were trying to avoid urinating because the surroundings were too bad even for four-legged creatures.

Trebatoski said his staff has its hands full working through the weekend to bathe, groom and medically treat the animals. Some might not be ready to be adopted for several weeks.

Many of the dogs are being shaved from head to tail, he said. While shaving one dog, staff found pieces of metal stuck in its fur.

Trebatoski said the scene was typical of what investigators find at puppy mill sites. Pets are usually jammed into small spaces and forced to breed. The puppies are usually sold quickly for a profit and are in good condition, but the breeding animals are often in poor health.

Michelle Gilliam, senior public relations manager for the Jacksonville Humane Society, said officials were made aware of the case and offered their help in any way.

Gilliam said the Humane Society isn’t against people buying dogs from a breeder, but customers should do their research so they aren’t supporting a puppy mill operation.

“We encourage people to adopt from reputable organizations, whether it’s a shelter or rescue home or a reputable breeder,” she said. “I can’t speak to this specific case, but we want to be sure that wherever people get their pets that they are being treated in a humane way.”

Animal Care and Protective Services is working with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on the criminal investigation. Trebatoski said it’s likely that criminal charges will be filed against the homeowners, who had not been identified.

An anonymous tip prompted the investigation Thursday.

One neighbor, Mark New, told First Coast News he had no idea there was a suspected puppy mill next door.

“If it’s true, it’s unfortunate,” he said. “That’s why you don’t have that many pets; that is way too many pets to have.”