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Animal ATTRACTION |
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March 2008
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By Scott E. Williams / Galveston County Daily News The Galveston County Animal Shelter on Thursday began adopting out 112 animals taken last week in a raid on what officials here called a puppy mill. Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Mike Nelson awarded custody of all but four of the animals to the shelter after a hearing Wednesday morning in his Santa Fe courtroom. Nelson allowed Kathy Wilson, who had kept the animals on her Algoa property, to keep four of the dogs. She had described them as longtime pets. However, not among the four she picked Wednesday at the shelter was one of the oldest dogs. The dog was one she had described in court Wednesday as a pet — a blind dog with a terminal case of heartworms. “Puppy mill” is a derisive term to describe a high-volume dog-breeding facility in which the animals are often confined in small cages and bred constantly until they can no longer do so. At that point, they are often killed, left to die or given to animal-rescue groups. Officials found the animals a week ago after responding to an anonymous tip about animals being kept for breeding in atrocious conditions. Animal-control officer Joshua Henderson described the animals’ living conditions as “absolute chaos” — pens in which long-dry water bowls were full of excrement, large groups of animals shared sparse portions of food and filthy animals with matted fur. Wilson told the judge she had not been able to care for the animals as well as usual because she had been ill. “I got in over my head,” Wilson said. She also said the animals appeared to have no food because feeding time was in the evening, and animal control came about 11 a.m. on Feb. 14. The seizure made local headlines and received coverage on television news programs in Houston. As a result, county animal services manager Kim Schoolcraft said the animal shelter had been bombarded with people looking to adopt the 87 dogs seized Wednesday and the 12 puppies born to seized dogs since then. She said she hoped that people not able to adopt animals from that group would pick other animals at the shelter. “We’re going to end up with more people wanting to adopt these animals than we have animals from this case,” she said. “However, we also have plenty of animals here from other places, who would make wonderful pets and who also need homes. Our purpose here is to save the lives of these animals. They all deserve a second chance.” Schoolcraft also said people who buy dogs from breeders should be wary if those breeders do not want to show them where the puppies came from. “If they want to meet at McDonald’s to sell the puppy, that should raise suspicions,” she said. “If people saw the horrible conditions the parent animals are subjected to, in order to produce that cute puppy, no one with a conscience would be able to take one.” The seizure included 99 dogs of varying breeds, including poodles, Maltese and mixed-breeds. Officials also took in four cats and 10 sugar glider squirrels. The squirrels will not go to adoptive homes. Instead, they will go to a sugar glider rescue group or the Houston SPCA, where doctors can sterilize them before releasing them. How to Help: Anyone interested in adopting an animal from the Galveston County Animal Shelter can visit the shelter at 3412 Loop 197 North in Texas City. Adoptions from last week’s puppy-mill seizure will be limited to one per family, and all animals will be spayed or neutered before adoption. The center opens today at 11 a.m. 7 CommentsLeave a comment |
I am so very thankful so many were saved from that horrible person and those horrible conditions!! But I am so very worried about the 4 that were returned to her!! Were they being kept in better conditions than the rest that would make someone feel that they would be safe being returned to her??!! Who determined that they did not need or warrant being saved also??!! I guess we can only pray that they will be ok - and I am praying as hard as I can pray for that!! I also pray that someone will follow up on this situation to guarantee the ones returned are still not being abused and kept under inhumane conditions!! And that she doesnt start up the breeding again - with those dogs or other dogs!!
I SEE THE NEWS AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO THOSE PUPPYS. NO GOD LIVING THING SHOULD BE TREATED THAT WAY. THEY CAN NOT LOOK OUT FOR THEMSELF. I THINK THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE PLACE IN A SMALL CAGE AND LOCK UP WITHOUT WATER AND FOOD TO LET THEM NO HOW IT FEEL TO BE WITHOUT. SHE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOW TO HAVE ANY OF THE PUPPYS IN HER CARE. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ONE OF THE PUPPYS FOR MY MOTHER BUT DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GET ONE FOR HER. REMEMBER GOD SEE ALL AND HE WILL GET HER FOR WHAT SHE HAS DONE. IF SHE WAS ILL SHE SHOULD HAVE CALLED SOMEONE TO HELP WITH THEM AND STOP MISTREATING THEM. MY GOD BLESS HER AND TAKE CARE OF HER. SHE REALLY DIDN'T MEAN TO HURT THEM, BUT SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE BREEDED THEM AND THAN KILL THEM ARE LET THEM SUFER.
Are these the Dogs and Cats that had until tonight to be adopted or they would be put down?
I hope these animals are being adopted. The Shelter that has these animals should contact BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY in Kanab Utah,as you know they brought 300 Cats and Dogs from over seas war zone, surely they will help our own.
No the dog and cats that have until today were at the shelter/pound in Brookshire. The rescue group that sent out the plea is called Zeke Fund Animal Rescue. An update says most of the dogs have been adopted but 15 still need homes. The group is holding an adoption drive at Brookshire Small Animal Clinic in the 700 block of F.M. 1489 from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.
It costs $100 to adopt a dog, which includes shots.
For more information, visit www.zeke-fund-animal-rescue.com or call 281-855-3634. Hope this helps.
My heart goes out to the animals. I only wish that i could afford the adoption fee, I have been looking for a dog to keep me company,and i saw one on the tv i only hope that the people that adoption the animal know that the pets need love and care.
I'm not sure what a "URL" is, but my question that I have is the following: What is the cost of adopting a puppy from this puppy mill and do they have a website were I can view the puppies. I am very interest in having one of these puppies.
Thank you for the time in reading my email.
V. Sanchez
I just adopted one of the last two remaining dogs from this puppy mill on Thursday, 3/8/07. He is a 3-4 year old poodle and the most loving, sweet, good-tempered dogs I have ever known. How fortunate for me and my children that "Max" didn't let his terrible upbringing turn him into a "bad" dog. You would never know that this dog came from a less than loving atmosphere. He is wonderful and I would highly recommend anyone looking for a canine companion to go to their local shelter before going anywhere else. These dogs need love and are so appreciative of the love they are given.