Hoarding - 38 dogs, 57 cats removed from home
Aurora, MO (US)

Incident Date: Sunday, Apr 30, 2006
County: Lawrence

Disposition: Not Charged

Person of Interest: Toni L Chauvin

Inspectors with the Missouri Department of Agriculture's Animal Care Facilities Act Program today removed 38 dogs and 57 cats from an unlicensed rescue operation in Aurora.

John Cupps, an agriculture department inspector, worked with staff from the Humane Society of Missouri and the Lawrence County sheriff's office to remove the animals from the home of Toni Chauvin, 21554 Lawrence County Road 2200. Cupps said the facility was inadequate to house the number of pets on the premise and did not meet standards for adequate care.

Chauvin apparently was rescuing abandoned animals and had become unable to adequately house and care for the growing number of dogs and cats she was taking in, said Dr. Jerry Eber, staff veterinarian with the ACFA program. Chauvin gave custody of the dogs to the state. The dogs will be taken to the Humane Society of Missouri's facility in St. Louis, where they will be evaluated, treated and offered for adoption.

"Ms. Chauvin was trying to do some good for these animals, but the number of pets just became too much for her to handle," said Eber. "With the cooperation of the Humane Society and local authorities, we were able to prevent the situation from going from bad to worse and secure proper care and treatment for the dogs and cats."

ACFA inspectors learned of the conditions at Chauvin's home when following up on a complaint. They inspected the facility last week and found filthy conditions, dogs tied to poles without shelter and a dead dog that had not been disposed of. Cupps said the animals were receiving food and water, but that Chauvin, who is in a wheelchair, was having trouble physically taking care of the pets.

The Animal Care Facilities Act Program annually licenses and inspects facilities that provide care to dogs and cats to ensure that animals in licensed facilities receive humane and adequate care and treatment.

References

• Missouri Dept of Agriculture - May 2006

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