The ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), in conjunction with the Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO), today removed more than 100 dogs from a breeding facility in Camden County in Central Missouri.
The dogs are being transferred to the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri in Springfield and HSMO in St. Louis, where they will be medically treated and cared for until they’re ready to be put up for adoption.
The dogs — which included mainly small breeds such as Dachshunds, Malteses, Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, and large breeds such as Huskies and Boxers — were voluntarily relinquished by the kennel owner, who says they who no longer could afford to feed them and contacted a local rescue group, Half-way Home Pet Rescue in Cedar County. Half-way Home contacted the ASPCA, which responded with a team of eight and its 60-foot-long animal transport trailer, which is stationed in Missouri and designed to meet demands of large-scale emergency situations. As part of the emergency relief efforts, PetSmart Charities provided the ASPCA’s Anti-Cruelty team with pet transport carriers and crates.
“Missouri, the puppy mill capital of the United States, exports more than 40 percent of all dogs sold in pet stores nationwide,” ASPCA states. “It is home to more than 3,000 commercial dog breeding facilities, which represents more than 20 percent of puppy mills nationwide.”
“The ASPCA is committed to assisting local animal organizations, as well as overwhelmed breeders, to help find homes for animals in situations like this,” said Tim Rickey, the ASPCA’s Senior Director of Field Investigation and Response. “Having too many dogs, as this crisis clearly illustrates, puts a tremendous strain on local agencies when they are suddenly forced to care and find homes for large numbers of animals.”
