Latest Rescues

Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force rescues 15 dogs
in dog fighting raid in Stone County
Dogs found with multiple injuries and in deplorable conditions; Stone County Sheriff’s Department conducts 7-month investigation

Rescue occurs at 1-year anniversary of largest dog fighting raid and rescue in U.S. history

July 8, 2010-At the request of the Stone County Sheriff’s Department, the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force last night rescued seven adult pit bulls and eight puppies from the property of an alleged dog fighter near Kimberling City, MO in Stone County.  Several of the dogs had old wounds and two adults had recent wounds – including one with a bloody eye.  The dogs were found on a densely wooded hillside away from public view.  Most of them were attached to heavy log chains and thick collars.  The property was trash strewn and had dilapidated buildings with multiple abandoned trucks. >>>

Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force rescues more than 100 small breed dogs living in deplorable conditions from licensed breeder in Miller County

Breeder cited by USDA multiple times; Animals suffering from substandard veterinary care; feces-encrusted fur and living areas, overcrowded pens, chronic lack of ventilation

Monday, June 14, 2010-Working in cooperation with the Miller County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and at the request of the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA), the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force today is rescuing more than 100 dogs living in extremely unsanitary and unsafe conditions from a licensed breeder on a property outside of Tuscumbia, Mo. The Miller County Sheriff’s Department served a warrant to inspect, care for or impound the animals today. On recommendation of an independent veterinarian on-site, the decision was made to remove all adult breeding dogs and puppies on the property. The animals include Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, Pekingese, Beagles, Shih Tzus, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and mixes of those breeds. >>>

Seven More Dog Fighters Sentenced in Dog Fighting Raid Last July

June 3, 2010-United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois sentenced seven men in their involvement in the largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history. Jail terms range from one to two years along with supervision following their incarceration. >>>

Dog left tethered in shadeless yard dies today from heat exhaustion
Second dog fortunately survives

May 24, 2010-Acting on a call from a concerned citizen, today the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force was called to a property in St. Louis City where two one-year old Shih Tzus, a male and a female, were tethered in a backyard with no access to shade or water. The dogs had been in the direct sun on this 90 degree day for 2 to 3 hours. >>>

Humane Society of Missouri Offers Reward in Dog Shooting Case
Dog shot in North St. Louis County this morning

May 13, 2010-The Humane Society of Missouri is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who shot a five-year-old Pit Bull on Wilborn Drive in Jennings this morning. >>>

Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force Rescues Chihuahua from Inside a Hot Car

April 14, 2010-The Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force rescued a Chihuahua from inside a hot car parked outside of the Saint Louis Zoo. At the time of rescue the temperature inside the car had reached 105 degrees. Saint Louis Zoo personnel noticed the dog in distress and called the Humane Society of Missouri who in turn contacted the St. Louis Police. >>>

Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force rescues 75 animals from home in Greene County

March 29, 2010-Working in cooperation with the Greene County Sheriff’s Department, the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force rescued 75 animals from inside a home in Greene County, Missouri. The animals include: 40 dogs, 13 cats, 7 rabbits, 2 doves, 10 gerbils, 2 turtles and 1 chinchilla. All of the animals were living in filthy conditions with no access to clean water or proper food. Some were living in crates while others were running freely through the home. >>>

Humane Society of Missouri Rescues Dog Brutally Mutilated in Washington County

March 25, 2010-On Tuesday, March 22, the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force rescued a 10 month old female, pit bull whose ears had been severed.  The rescue was in response to a call from the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and a concerned citizen about an injured dog on a property just outside of Potosi, Missouri. The HSMO Animal Cruelty Investigator and Washington County detective who visited the property determined the dog had recent, bloody wounds to both ears. >>>

Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force rescues 55 mistreated dachshunds and other breeds from unlicensed breeder in Stone County

Update- March 22, 2010-Working in cooperation with the Stone County Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA), the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force today is rescuing 55 dogs living in deplorable conditions on a property near Hurley, Missouri. The animals include more than 40 Dachshunds, four Great Pyrenees, one German Shepherd, several Boston terriers and five mixed breed dogs. Two four-week-old puppies not housed with their mother were severely dehydrated and immediately taken to a local veterinarian for treatment. >>>

Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force rescues 131 domestic rabbits and 26 other animals from deplorable, frigid conditions in Franklin County

Update-Wednesday, March 10, 2010- The rabbits are stable after receiving fluids for dehydration. They have been treated for ear mites and other bacterial ear infections. >>>

Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force rescues 11 horses and 2 mules near death and discovers twelve deceased horses in Gasconade County

Update-March 3, 2010-The horses have been treated for internal and external parasite infestations. Their skin conditions are improving but this will be a slow process as they start to grow new healthy hair coats. >>>

Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force removes dangerous snakes, primates, alligator from Stone County residence

September 17, 2009-Working in cooperation with the Stone County Sheriff’s Department and the Dickerson Park Zoo, yesterday the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force helped remove 26 extremely dangerous, non-indigenous, poisonous snakes, several primates and an alligator suspected of being illegally harbored in a private residence in Stone County in southwest Missouri. The Stone County Sheriff’s Department executed a warrant that was served to remove the animals yesterday. Also in the home was a 3-year-old child who was taken into the care of the state by the Children’s Division of the Missouri Department of Social Services. >>>

Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force rescuing more than 100 dogs
from unlicensed, substandard puppy mill in Phelps County

September 15, 2009-Working in cooperation with the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force is rescuing more than 100 dogs living in filthy conditions on the site of an unlicensed, substandard dog breeding facility outside Rolla, Missouri. >>>

Humane Society of Missouri Confirms: Guilty Pleas Entered in Federal Court to Charges from Largest Dog Fighting Raid and Rescue in U.S. History

September 14, 2009-The Humane Society of Missouri today confirms guilty pleas have been entered in connection to the July 8, 2009 multi-state federal dog fighting raid that resulted in the rescue of more than 500 fighting dogs. Federal agents made 26 arrests and dogs were rescued in 8 states. >>>

The Humane Society of Missouri Assists in Crackdown of Suspected Michigan Dog Fighting Operations

Humane Society of Missouri Assists in Indiana Puppy Mill Rescue

June 2, 2009–A 7-person team from the Humane Society of Missouri's Animal Cruelty Task Force assisted in rescuing more than 200 dogs from a Harrison County, IN puppy mill. >>>

Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force rescuing 68 dogs from unlicensed, substandard puppy mill in Phelps County

April 28, 2009- Working in cooperation with the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force is rescuing 68 dogs living in filthy conditions on the site of an unlicensed, substandard dog breeding facility outside Rolla, Missouri. >>>

Humane Society of Missouri Offers $3,000 reward for information leading to location and recovery of approximately 200 dogs removed from substandard puppy mill

April 1, 2009- The Humane Society of Missouri is offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to the location and recovery of dogs removed from an unlicensed, substandard puppy mill between Monday, March 30, and Tuesday, March 31. >>>

Humane Society of Missouri Disaster Response Team deploys to North Dakota to rescue animals affected by severe flooding

March 27, 2009- The Humane Society of Missouri Disaster Response Team has been deployed to North Dakota to rescue animals affected by severe flooding in the Fargo area. The four team members are all experienced in water and disaster rescue and animal sheltering. The team will take with them two trucks pulling a travel trailer and an equipment trailer with water and rope rescue equipment and a boat and an animal transport van. >>>

Animal Cruelty Task Force rescues nearly 400 animals from Arkansas puppy mill

PARIS, Ark. (March 23, 2009) — In cooperation with the Logan County Sheriff Department and other animal welfare agencies including United Animal Nations, the Humane Society of the U.S. and local humane organizations this week a 10-person team from the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force directed field operations to rescue nearly 400 neglected animals from a Logan County, Arkansas substandard puppy mill. Read full story and see on scene photos.

Humane Society of Missouri rescuing 150 dogs from substandard puppy mill in Southwest Missouri

Bengal Tiger on property transported to Springfield Zoo; Second major puppy mill rescue for the Humane Society of Missouri in the past week

February 20, 2009-Working in cooperation with the Newton County Sheriff’s Department, the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force is rescuing approximately 150 dogs living in very unsanitary conditions in a substandard dog breeding facility near Seneca, Missouri. One adult Bengal Tiger has also been rescued. The Newton County Sheriff’s Department issued a warrant that was served to remove the animals today. The animals are being removed at the recommendation of an independent veterinarian. >>>

Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force rescuing more than 90 dogs from unlicensed, substandard puppy mill in Greene County

February 13, 2009-Working in cooperation with the Greene County Sheriff’s Department, the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force is rescuing more than 90 dogs living in filthy conditions on the site of an unlicensed, substandard dog breeding facility near Pleasant Hope, Missouri. The Greene County Sheriff’s Department issued a warrant that was served to remove the animals today. >>>

Humane Society of Missouri Disaster Response Team Called to Southeast Missouri for Emergency Animal Rescue and Shelter

At the request of SEMA the Humane Society of Missouri's Disaster Response Team has set up operations in Butler, New Madrid and Pemiscot counties to assist with feeding, watering and setting up temporary shelter for pet owners with no water or electricity. Each county has between 80-100% of the population without power and Pemiscot County is without a water supply after the winter storm that passed through the area in late January. >>>

Humane Society of Missouri Rescues Dog from Cold and Ice on I-44

Pet Owners Cautioned to Pay Special Attention to Pets in Frigid Weather

Following a call to the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Abuse Hotline, a humane officer from the Humane Society of Missouri rescued a cold, scared 1 ½ year old, female German Shepherd from the very hazardous, icy conditions and freezing temperatures in the median of I-44 at Jefferson Avenue at about 9:15 this morning.

The dog Humane Society of Missouri staff have named Isis is now being treated by veterinarians and staff at the Humane Society’s Headquarters on Macklind Avenue. She was found lying in the median scared and covered in ice. She was dehydrated and had sustained several abrasions. Isis has no identification tags or microchip. She will be held for 6 days while the Humane Society searches for her owner. If no owner is found, she will then be made available for adoption.

HUMANE SOCIETY OF MISSOURI ADVISORY
Pet owners are cautioned to be mindful of how quickly pets can be adversely affected by frigid conditions. “Even animals with heavy coats can be at risk,” cautions Dr. Steven Schwartz, director of Veterinary Medical Centers for the Humane Society of Missouri. “When a pet’s coat gets wet, the cold can easily penetrate causing hypothermia in a very short time. In addition, pet paws are particularly vulnerable on ice and snow. Pets should always have a dry place out of the wind to retreat to, preferably one that is inside and warm.”

To report an animal in distress, call the Humane Society of Missouri at (314) 647-4400.

COLD WEATHER TIPS FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF MISSOURI

Humane Society of Missouri Called to Rescue 49 Pekes, Poodles, Pugs and More from Oklahoma Puppy Mill

Humane Society of Missouri only shelter in the region with resources available to rescue largenumber of animals on short notice

The Humane Society of Missouri is assisting the Grove Humane Society in Delaware County, Oklahoma, with the rescue of 49 small-breed dogs and puppies from a defunct breeding operation. The dogs were kept in dilapidated, wooden and wire rabbit hutches without protection from freezing temperatures predicted for the area. The owner released custody of the dogs to the Humane Society of Missouri Rescue Team who is bringing them back to St. Louis for medical attention and adoption. See photos and read full story.

Reward Offered in Horrific Animal Abuse Case

Cat suffers brutal beating then is set on fire.

October 27, 2008 - The Humane Society of Missouri is offering a $2,500 reward to each of the first three persons who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who severely abused an adult female domestic cat.

On Saturday afternoon, October 18, the Humane Society of Missouri responded to a call from the St. Louis City Police Department and a concerned citizen about an injured cat in north St. Louis City. The HSMO Animal Cruelty Investigator and St. Louis City Police Officers determined that the cat had been bound, beaten numerous times with a metal object and set on fire. Humane Society veterinarians who examined the cat found she was suffering from numerous abrasions and bruises, her lungs were irreparably damaged by inhaled smoke and her flesh was severely burned. To alleviate further suffering, the cat was humanely euthanized.

“The excruciating pain and agony this helpless victim suffered is unfathomable,” said Dr. Steve Schwartz, director of Veterinary Medical Centers for the Humane Society of Missouri. “Already battered and bruised, this poor creature’s suffering only intensified once she was set on fire.”

The Humane Society and the St. Louis City Police Department determined the incident occurred about midnight, Friday, Oct. 17 in the 3100 block of Brantner Place. Authorities believe there were numerous witnesses to this incident.

“The heinous nature of this blatant act of animal torture is frightening,” said Tim Rickey, director of Rescues and Investigations for the Humane Society of Missouri. “I implore anyone with information about this despicable act of cruelty to come forward and help us protect other animals from such a horrendous fate.”

Anyone with information about this crime should contact:
Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Abuse Hotline
314-647-4400

Humane Society of Missouri rescuing 73 dogs and cats from substandard breeder in Howell County

Many of the animals emaciated with no access to food and water; breeder’s license lapsed

Working in cooperation with the Howell County Sheriff’s Department, a team from the Rescues and Investigations Division of the Humane Society of Missouri is rescuing 67 dogs and puppies and 6 cats from a breeding facility near West Plains in Howell County in south central Missouri. Read full story. See photos.

Past Rescues

Humane Society of Missouri Responds to Urgent Request for Animal Rescue at an Indiana Substandard Puppy Mill

Humane Society of Missouri Disaster Response Team continues animal rescues in Galveston after Hurricane Ike

Humane Society of Missouri Disaster Response Team Called to Texas

More than 360 animals are in deplorable conditions in Polk County, Mo

Humane Society of Missouri’s Longmeadow Rescue Ranch to care for horse cruelly dragged behind four-wheeler in Iron County

Disaster Response Team Rescues and Shelters Pets Displaced by Mississippi River Flooding in Missouri and Iowa

Humane Society of Missouri Disaster Response Team Comes to Aid of Pets Displaced by Tornado in Southern Missouri

April 14, 2008-Humane Society of Missouri Respond to Report of Dog Shot Twice in Face