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Puppy mill - over 300 animals seized
Wills Point, TX (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Jun 2, 2004
County: Van Zandt
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available
Alleged: Mary Smith
In its largest rescue effort to date, the SPCA of Texas seized more than 300 animals, mostly dogs and puppies, but also including cats, birds and a horse, from a puppy mill near Wills Point, Texas where the animals were forced to live in crowded, filthy conditions and without clean food or water. Twenty six puppies, one adult dog and one horse were also discovered dead on the property later in the day.
To date, the majority of dogs have been evaluated by veterinarians and, overall, are in good shape. Most have treatable conditions which include ear mites, flea allergiess, long nails, matted fur, bad teeth (or no teeth), injured paws and open sores. Some are heartworm positive.
Seventeen cats and eight birds rescued from the property are also being evaluated. The cats are undernourished and flea-infested and some have diarrhea, birds were living in filthy cages but are otherwise healthy. The horse was foundered and underweight and was taken to the SPCA in McKinney for evaluation.
The dogs, which include toy breeds such as Chihuahuas, poodles, pugs and Pomeranians and range in age from 9 weeks to 10 years, were living in cramped wire cages stacked atop one another and matted with feces and urine. Many of the dogs have open sores from being forced to sit on wire mesh, while larger breeds, including hounds and great Danes, were living outdoors, chained or tethered and without shade or clean food or water.
Mary Smith, who resides at "Fuzzcrest Farms" just outside Wills Point in Van Zandt County, faces possible charges of animal cruelty. Officials from the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Department have repeatedly visited the property and issued citations and warnings to improve the dogs' living conditions. When the SPCA first visited the scene May 21, the owner was unable to produce veterinary records for any of the animals.
Because its three shelters in Dallas, McKinney and The Colony are full, the SPCA will be housing the dogs at a 24,000 sq. ft. warehouse near downtown Dallas where they will remain until final custody is determined. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, June 8, 2004 in Wills Point at Justice of the Peace office #3, at 1 p.m.
"The shocking conditions of mass dog-breeding operations such as this never fail to sicken and infuriate," says Dave Garcia, the SPCA's VP of Operations and Humane Law Enforcement. "The SPCA urges citizens to take action and contact legislators to stiffen laws and penalties that will eliminate the market for puppy mill pets and stop the unnecessary addition of countless animals to an already tragic problem of pet overpopulation."
Typically, dogs bred in puppy mills are sold in venues such as flea markets, pet shops, over the internet or via newspaper ads. In most cases, the animals, many with medical problems, are not vaccinated or wormed, are malnourished and sick, and suffer abuse, physical stress and lack of socialization.
"By purchasing an animal from any of these venues, you are keeping these mills in business," says Garcia. "Sadly, this is one of only thousands of similar mills in operation, and the SPCA can only work on one at a time."
The SPCA's financial outlay for this rescue operation, which it hopes to recoup from public donations, is estimated at more than $40,000 and includes cages and kennels, leased warehouse space for temporary housing, food and water bowls, vaccines, de-wormer, dip, microchips, food, staff labor, veterinary costs and clinic and other supplies. References« TX State Animal Cruelty Map
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