Puppy mill - over 30 dogs neglected, starved
Benton, AR (US)Incident Date: Monday, Jan 8, 2007
County: Saline
Disposition: Not Charged
Person of Interest: Butch Conrad
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
More than 30 dogs of varying ages and types were rescued on Jan 8 from a Saline County site that a volunteer for the Humane Society of Saline County compared to the aftermath of a hurricane.
"This is a day that won't soon be forgotten by our volunteers and the sheriff's deputies," Ann Sanders, president of the Humane Society, said.
The rescue effort, which has occurred over several days and continues, was initiated by a caller asking the Humane Society to investigate serious animal cruelty at property on Dixie Lane (in the Crossroads area south off U.S. 70).
Sanders said she called the Saline County Sheriff's Office for assistance with the investigation and met the officers at the site.
"What we found there defies words," she said. "Pictures don't even tell the story because a picture can't convey the horrible odors.
"It looks like the conditions that follow a hurricane," she added.
"Everywhere you would look, it seemed to get worse. It just boggles the mind that people were attempting to live there at some point," she said.
Among numerous rusted-out vans and school buses were appliances, mobile homes in various states of deterioration, cinder blocks haphazardly tossed about the property, ripped tarps dangling everywhere, hundreds of tires scattered throughout, heaps of trash and - at the best estimate - more than 30 dogs and puppies.
"The puppies were contained in a pen without food and water, and the pen was full of sludge and mud and who knows what," Sanders said. "They were crawling around and standing on anything they could find - loose boards that had fallen into the pen, cinder blocks, anything just to get out of the very wet mud that was trying to suck them down like sticky quicksand."
One pen contained 12 puppies, believed to be 3 to 4 months old, which were suffering from various ailments and had extremely distended stomachs, she said.
"Many people may look at those pictures and think they are well-fed because they look fat, but this is the way underfed, worm-infested puppies look," she said.
Sanders said she has never before seen such a degree of abdominal bloating. "At the age of these pups, serious worm infestations can be fatal.
"We still don't have all the dogs," Sanders said. "There is at least one that is injured, but we haven't been able to get it. Even though it has what appears to be a bad leg injury, it runs when someone attempts to get it.
Dr. Tina Fletcher, a veterinarian who comes to the shelter regularly, has examined all of the animals and will be monitoring their health, Sanders said.
Some of the older dogs were found to have worm infestation, malnourishment and dehydration, but some also have tumors and other medical problems, Sanders noted.
"We will give each animal the absolute best care possible and they will all be given a clean bill of health before they are eligible for adoption," she said.
She said she is hopeful that animal cruelty and neglect charges will be filed against the owner, whom she identified as Butch Conrad. She said she also is hopeful that the society will receive full custody of the animals.
"We learned that the owner went out there yesterday and left food in various places, but the conditions are still horrible," Sanders said. "We hope to get all of the animals."
In order to house the dogs, it was necessary to immediately build new pens at the shelter, Sanders said. She asked that community residents assist the society with the cost of the animals' care and that they provide some of the items needed to care for them.
"We need puppy formula, blankets and bedding, cedar shavings, cleaning supplies, rubbing alcohol, trash bags, peroxide, gauze, paper towels and other paper products," Sanders said.
All of the dogs are being fed Science Diet now through a contract the society has with the company, so no additional food is needed, she noted.
Items may be donated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the shelter in Bauxite.
Monetary donations may be taken to the shelter or mailed to the society at P.O. Box 305, Benton, AR 72018.
Anyone who wishes to be placed on an adoption list for any of these dogs may contact the shelter at (501) 557-5518 and leave contact information, Sanders said.
"In the event any or all of these animals become available for adoption, a Humane Society representative will contact the individuals.
"Right now the dogs are doing pretty well," she said. "We gave them shots and wormed them and some that were dehydrated were given IV fluids."
Case UpdatesThe owner of the dogs, Butch Conrad, was facing multiple animal cruelty charges. But all charges had to be dropped so that the Saline County Humane Society could take the dogs immediately.
After a little love and care, the dogs are much taller and healthier. Once the shelter took control, the animals were given a vet check, spayed, neutered, and treated for worms.
Now, 24 animals are ready for adoption and if you're interested the shelter says give them a call.
Saline County Humane Society President Ann Sanders says, "We have a lot of blonde puppies. I know most people like the blonde ones the best. We've got lots of little black and tan ones. They're just adorable."
One of the original dogs seized had to be put down because it had a large tumor. That's why Humane Society officials say it's important that if you see that you can no longer take care of your animals, don't just abandon them, give them to someone who will care for them.
To adopt, contact the Saline County Humane Society at (501) 557-5518. | Source: Today's THV - March 19, 2007
Update posted on Mar 24, 2007 - 10:16PM |
Saline County deputies are searching for a man accused of animal abuse. Rescuers recently found more than 30 malnourished and flea infested dogs on his property.
The Saline County Humane Society says it's the largest case they've ever seen.
Volunteers at the Saline County Humane Society spent Friday morning watering and feeding more than 30 dogs, all different ages and breeds. They're safe at the shelter, but last weekend, the story was much different.
"Poop and mud, it's hard to distinguish what was poop and mud. It was all just sludge in the bottom of the pen where all the puppies were," says Humane Society President Ann Sanders.
Sanders is describing what she saw when she walked on Butch Conrad's abandoned property.
A neighbor initiated the rescue effort by asking the humane society to investigate possible animal cruelty at a property on Dixie Lane, off Highway 70.
"It was just amazing what people will do to their dogs. I just don't understand why people don't love animals like the rest of us do. I know some people are allergic and don't like animals, but it's hard to understand how you can treat animals like that," says Sanders.
Volunteers will return to Conrad's property this weekend to pick up five other dogs, some of which are injured. A veterinarian has examined all of the animals and will be monitoring their health.
Some of the older dogs were worm infested, malnourished, and dehydrated. Sanders says she's never seen this many dogs with heavy abdominal bloating. They'll remain in quarantine for 10 days.
In the meantime, deputies are searching for Conrad. They say there's no telling how long he left the dogs without food and water.
He faces more than 30 counts of animal neglect and cruelty charges.
As for Sanders, she believes once Conrad is found, the court will have more than enough to convict him and hopefully, keep this from happening a second time.
Anyone who would like to be placed on an adoption list for any of the dogs can contact the Saline County Humane Society at 501-557-5518.
Meanwhile, state legislator Rick Saunders of Hot Springs is proposing a bill that if passed would increase the penalty for seriously injuring pets. | Source: Todday's THV - Jan 12, 2007
Update posted on Jan 14, 2007 - 3:47PM |
References
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