Animal Rescue

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. The Phelps County Sheriff’s Department issued a warrant that was served to remove the animals today. Because this facility is believed to be unlicensed, the Humane Society of Missouri also notified the Missouri Department of Agriculture as part of their Operation Bark Alert program.

The animals are believed to be Miniature Schnauzers, Poodles, Pekinese, Cocker Spaniels, Beagles and Yorkshire Terriers. The animals’ kennels were observed to be caked with feces and urine. A number of the dogs appeared in need of veterinary and grooming care. The animals were housed in too few cages for their number and had limited access to solid footing as the cages had wire floors which can cause paw and leg problems. Several new-born puppies and a mother were in a wire-bottom cage with no bedding or solid flooring available.

The rescued dogs will be taken to the Humane Society’s Headquarters on Macklind Avenue in
St. Louis for triage. The animals will remain in the custody of the Humane Society of Missouri until the disposition hearing scheduled for May 7 in Phelps County.

If custody of the dogs is awarded to the Humane Society of Missouri, as many of the animals as possible will be made available for adoption. Persons interested in adopting one of these dogs should visit the Humane Society of Missouri website to check availability and adoption location.