Puppy mill - 187 dogs seized
Frankfort, KS (US)Incident Date: Friday, Aug 1, 2008
County: Marshall
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: John Huninghake
The Kansas Animal Health Department seized 187 dogs from an unlicensed Marshall County retail breeder facility today. The department announced the seizure a week after it took the dogs from a breeder facility owned and operated by John Huninghake, of Frankfort.
"Puppy mills are a horrible place for an animal to grow up in," Helping Hands Humane Society director Stacy Hensiek said.
Puppy mills are breeding facilities that produce large numbers of purebred dogs. The animals are often kept in unhealthy conditions.
"The boxers we got were kept in a small kennel with five dogs in one kennel up off the ground with a licker water dish like a hamster bottle to drink out of and one food bowl," Hensiek said.
Being raised like this is unhealthy both mentally and physically, she said.
Now, although there are only two of them in the cage, the boxers still hide their food so they will have something to eat.
"They're nervous, they're scared. This is a completely new environment," Hensiek said.
Part of the new environment includes adjusting to solid surfaces.
Since the dogs were kept in wire cages above the ground, they don't even know what grass is.
Now, with their rescue, the dogs have a second chance at having a normal life.
"They appeared to be in fairly good health," Hensiek said.
Before being put up for adoption, the dogs will get vaccinations, heartworm testing, and be spayed or neutered.
With a little tender-loving care, Hensiek says these dogs can enjoy the life they deserve.
"They need some patience, but they'll eventually make good pets," Hensiek said. "And, they deserve a new start in life." References |
