Puppy mill - 114 dogs abandoned Bloomer, AR (US) Incident Date: Monday, Aug 13, 2007 County: Sebastian Disposition: Alleged Abuser names unreleased Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 12025 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in AR (US) Login to Watch this Case

On August 13 a tip came in to an Arkansas animal control officer that more than 100 dogs had been abandoned at a breeder�s house for at least a week, maybe as long as a month.

When Richard Rivera, Animal Control officer for Sebastian County arrived at the property, he reportedly saw the conditions the dogs had been left in and said, �It�s amazing that only two out of 114 died.� The rest are survivors, left by their owners to suffer in the suffocating summer heat. No one knows just why breeders would pack up all the belongings in their house and drive away, leaving the dogs locked in their cages.

Rivera said, �It�s not a bad facility at all. Somebody put a lot of money and time into this�it has automatic feeders and waterers. But the automatic stuff doesn�t work unless you have food and water in it.�

When neighbors became suspicious that the dogs had been abandoned, they went to the property and gave the dogs food. But no one called the police. �People don�t want to call because they�re afraid their neighbor is going to burn their house down,� said Rivera.

An emergency hearing has been scheduled with a judge for August 15. �The court order will turn them over to us,� Rivera said. They will receive much-needed medical care. The public has reportedly shown interest in the dogs� fate. Volunteers are turning out to help, and people want to adopt dogs.

It will take some time to get the dogs ready to go to the public, considering the shape they are in. Rivera said the list of medical problems the vet has found includes: �Mange and ruptured eyes; these dogs have been bred so much the females� uteruses were literally inside out. Skinny, oh goodness were they skinny. All sorts of ticks, fleas.�

Rivera said, �If I hadn�t gotten the call when I did, it would have been a lot worse.�

A criminal case is being investigated, and authorities are looking for the property owners. Evidence has been collected in the case to be forwarded to the prosecutor�s office. For now, the dogs are being cared for on the owner�s property until they can legally be removed and taken to the Sebastian County Humane Society.

There are Shelties, Chihuahuas, Shih Tzus, Springer Spaniels, Cockers, Boston Terriers and other small breed dogs. Most of them are expected to be up for adoption after being medically cleared.

Those interested in filling out an application can contact the Sebastian County Humane Society at (479) 783-4395, or visit the website: www.sebastiancountyhumanesociety.org.

Case Updates

References

KFSM - Aug 14, 2007

Not sure what these icons mean? Click here.

Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.