HSMO Awarded Custody of 55 Dogs Rescued from Franklin County

The dogs, mostly Basset Hounds, will be made available for adoption individually after continued treatment and rehabilitation.

October 2020 | The Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO) has been awarded custody of 55 dogs rescued last month from a substandard breeder in Franklin County, Mo. by a Franklin County Circuit Court judge.  The dogs, mostly Basset hound and Basset-mixes, have been receiving veterinary and shelter care at Humane Society of Missouri headquarters in St. Louis.

In early October, HSMO’s Animal Cruelty Task Force (ACT) removed the dogs from the residence of a suspected breeder in Franklin County at the request of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. They were found in varying stages of malnutrition and filth – many housed in crates and sitting in their own feces and urine.

“We thank the judge for considering the welfare and best interests of these dog by awarding custody to the Humane Society of Missouri,” said HSMO President Kathy Warnick.  “We are extremely grateful they will not be returned to the filthy, cruel situation they had been forced to experience their entire lives.”

The dogs will be available for adoption individually. Some require continuing veterinary care and some need additional socialization. All the dogs will be spayed or neutered prior to adoption. HSMO will work not only with individual adopters, but also with foster families and special rescue groups to ensure appropriate placement of these dogs.

“While these rescued dogs are very cute, they have not been raised in or exposed to a normal household environment, having limited human contact and living in confined spaces,” said Linda Campbell, shelter animal behavior manager at the Humane Society of Missouri. “It’s important for potential adopters to be aware that these animals will need patience and possibly special training from their new families to ensure they adapt well to their new lives.”

To Help the Franklin County Dogs

• Persons interested in adopting one of these dogs should regularly visit www.hsmo.org/adopt.  These dogs will be listed on the website as they become available for adoption.
• To make a donation to aid in the care and rehabilitation of these dogs, please visit hsmo.org/franklincounty. Donations of newspaper, towels, blankets, toys, and long-cut shredded paper also would be appreciated.
• To report an animal abuse or neglect, call the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Hotline at 314.647.4400.