Puppy mill - 19 puppies found in pickup truck
Denver, CO (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Feb 1, 2006
County: Arapahoe
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Dwight Allen Young
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
Animal-control officers found 19 puppies in the back of a pickup on February 12, 2006 in northwest Denver and cited the dogs' owner for animal cruelty, neglect and abandonment. The owner, a breeder from South Dakota, said the dogs were well taken care of and the officers were being overzealous.
"These dogs were not in danger," he said. Doug Kelley, director of the Denver Division of Animal Care and Control, could not be reached for comment.
The incident began about 12:45 p.m. when someone phoned in a tip that several dogs were abandoned in the back of a pickup in the 2900 block of Zuni Street. Officers arrived, broke into the camper shell and took the dogs, leaving a note. Denver police officers also were called but had to handle a more pressing call while en route, police spokeswoman Virginia Qui�ones said.
The dogs were mostly young Shih Tzus, Shetland sheepdogs and Shiba Inus. They were in large portable kennels, as many as three per kennel.
According to the citation, Dwight Young of Burke, S.D., was cited with 19 counts each of animal cruelty, neglect and abandonment. The citation said there was a smell of urine coming from the truck and the hot afternoon sun was shining into the closed camper shell. Young said the dogs had food and water. He had not abandoned the puppies, he said, but was across the street at a sauna. Dwight Young said he was transporting the puppies for sale and kept them in his pickup truck while he stayed in a motel.
"What do they expect, that you're going to sit with them 24 hours a day?" he said. "You have to have time to eat; you have to have time to sleep." Young said he drove with the dogs from South Dakota and spent the night in Brighton. He had been planning to drive back to Brighton to sell the dogs at a truck stop to prospective buyers who had contacted him. He said he doesn't sell the dogs to pet stores, and he said the dogs had all the proper medical certifications. He said the dogs go for about $200 to $450 each. "If they don't let me take them tomorrow," Young said, "I guess I'll be seeking an attorney."
(A Gregory County Judge issued the warrant March 28th and Second Chance Rescue Center in Sioux Falls was called out to seize the dogs March 29th.)
Dr. Angela Anderson from Heather Ridge Pet Hospital was examining the dogs right after they were brought back to Sioux Falls from Burke. She looked them over from nose tip to tail. She says, "We have a wound that is 4 inches by 4 inches on the left side of the neck." Only one Sheltie was brought back today from the breeder's home in rural Burke. Of the 13 dogs rescued, 12 of them are Shitzu's. The Sheltie is the only one with a gaping wound on it, but all of the dogs seized by Second Chance Rescue are in bad shape.
Dr. Anderson says the Sheltie may be pregnant but she can't tell.
Rosey Quinn is the Executive Director of the Center. She went out on the call. She says the animals are actually in worse shape than the conditions she found them in...although it was still bad. "In walking through (the grounds) we took the worst of the worst that needed medical attention right away and we're sure we're not done with this gentleman," Quinn said. She estimates that between 60 and 70 dogs were on the owners property. And even though they were kept in 2" of matted down feces, they are showing signs of relief..we saw a lot of tails wagging.
The most serious problems are ear, eye and mouth infections (from rotten teeth). Quinn says, "Dr. Anderson just checked a dog who's going to have to have all of his teeth pulled. It's an older guy but there is so much puss in the gums. If not treated that infection can spread internally, kill organs and eventually lead to death. It's very serious."
The most visible problem is the severe matting of their hair, which Quinn says, more than likely has lead to sores on their skin. "They are going to need to be here a good week with heavy medication to get up and going. Right now the biggest concern is getting their coats off. I don't believe they've ever been groomed," Quinn said.
Second Chance Rescue will be shaving and bathing all the dogs in the next couple of days. They are asking for any groomers and volunteers who are willing to help to please do so. They also need walkers. They would appreciate any donations for vet care and dog food as well.
Case UpdatesA Denver jury has found a South Dakota puppy breeder guilty of animal cruelty. Dwight Young, 58, was convicted Wednesday on 19 misdemeanor counts and faces up to 18 months in jail at his June 19 sentencing. His conviction also could prevent him from operating a dog facility.
Young was arrested in Denver in March 2006 when local animal-control officers found 19 dogs of several breeds � two grown animals and 17 puppies � stored in "filthy, deplorable conditions" in the back of his truck, according to the Denver district attorney's office.
The dogs were stored in the back of his Young's pickup at a motel where he was staying; passers-by smelled them. Authorities said at the time of his arrest that the dogs did not have access to water, in addition to the filth.
Young said then that he travels with the dogs from his home in Burke, S.D., to Brighton to sell them at a truck stop. The dogs included Lhasa apsos, terriers, Shih Tzus, shelties and mixed breeds.
The dogs were seized and later adopted out by Denver Animal Care and Control. | Source: Denver Post - April 24, 2008
Update posted on Apr 27, 2008 - 11:42PM |
Seventeen dogs that were found in the back of a pickup need new homes. The puppies were found in February living in crates.
Animal control officers took the dogs and cited the owner for cruelty, neglect and abandonment.
The dogs have been at the Denver Municipal Animal Shelter ever since.
The 17 puppies all under the age of one are now ready for adoption.
If you are interested in the puppies, adoption will be done by a lottery system.
You will need to arrive at the Denver Municipal Animal Shelter on south Jason Street by 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
If you would like more information about the puppies call: 303-698-0076. | Source: 9 News - May 1, 2006
Update posted on May 2, 2006 - 4:18PM |
References« CO State Animal Cruelty Map
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