March 23, 2012
This week, 136 puppy mill survivors moved one step—and, in some cases, hundreds of miles—closer to the happy endings they deserve. On Tuesday, the ASPCA transported the pups, rescued from a Kentucky mill in October, to partner shelters where they’ll find loving homes at last.
The lucky Chihuahuas, Dachshunds, Papillons, Min Pins, Poodles and other small-breed dogs and puppies headed to agencies including the Kentucky Humane Society in Louisville; the Richmond SPCA in Virginia; St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, New Jersey; and the Washington Animal Rescue League in Washington, D.C.
These generous shelters, part of our Shelter Response Partnership network, have the space and resources to help these pups find families.
“The ASPCA is grateful for the assistance provided by our response partners in placing a large number of animals from this case,” says Joel Lopez, Senior Manager of Operations for the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response Team.
The ASPCA removed the dogs from a Rowan County puppy mill on October 6, where they were found covered in mold and matted fur and suffering from infections, dental disease and various other ailments. After the seizure, the dogs received veterinary attention, enrichment and care from a small army of ASPCA responders in a temporary shelter.
Earlier this month the mill’s owner, Pamela Blevins, pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and one kennel violation and relinquished ownership of the dogs to the ASPCA. That meant these sweet pups could finally leave the temporary shelter and head to our shelter partners, and we couldn’t be happier.
Says Lopez, “We are thrilled to see each of these dogs leave the temporary shelter and move on toward a better life.”