That's a lot of dogs!


Carroll targets 'puppy mill'

By Christopher Brooke
HILLSVILLE - A Carroll County dog breeder named in a Virginia puppy mill investigation by the Humane Society of the United States has agreed to surrender about 1,000 animals to authorities.
An undercover video embedded with the Humane Society's report names Junior Horton of Hillsville as one of the larger breeders in Virginia.
"In Carroll County, Junior Horton keeps between 500 and 700 adult dogs for breeding and has no USDA license," a voice-over says in the video.
The site is in west Hillsville on Kaitlyn Lane, off Howlett Street.
The Humane Society said it found a pet store that uses Horton as a supplier for puppies without complying with the licensing requirement, but the remainder of the seven-minute video focuses on what investigators saw at other breeders.
The Gazette contacted Horton for an interview, but he declined, saying that he wanted to speak to his lawyer first.
Dogs shouldn't be treated as agricultural products grown to make a profit, Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for the Humane Society, told The Gazette.
Objectionable practices that the Humane Society found at Horton's facility included smaller dogs kept in breeding pairs in what Shain described as outdoor "rabbit hutches," with raised cages with plastic covered wire serving as the floor.
Mothers with puppies appeared to be kept in indoor housing areas, she said.
Humane Society officials saw animals that appeared to have eye infections, something that should be treated by a veterinarian. "We didn't see rampant disease. nothing that was obvious to us."
Nor did the investigation find large numbers of animals that had significant injuries, she said.
And the dogs appeared to have clean water and to be adequately fed, Shain added.
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The non-profit Virginia Partnership for Animal Welfare and Support contacted Carroll County officials and animal control authorities Nov. 1 - before the Humane Society report was made public - in connection with the puppy mill found in Hillsville.
"This puppy mill is believed to be the largest of several which were the focus of a six-month investigation by Virginia PAWS and the Humane Society of the United States," according to a news release from the Carroll County Administrator's Office.

After receiving this information, a team of animal control officers and a veterinarian visited the property and found more than 1,000 "small-breed dogs of various ages in several locations" kept in buildings and cages.
The welfare of the animals was the primary concern of local officials, and efforts began to safeguard the dogs, the news release said. Officials with Hillsville, Carroll County and the Carroll County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office have been working with Virginia PAWS to make sure the dogs are treated humanely as possible.
"At this time, the owner of the puppy mill has consented to the surrender of 980-plus dogs," the county said.
"He has further been made aware that he will be under the close scrutiny of animal control officers to make certain that the remaining animals are kept in proper conditions and are not subjugated to unacceptable breeding practices."

A plan for care for the animals was developed in a meeting involving local officials along with Virginia PAWS representatives on Nov. 2.
"Each individual animal will be given an identification number, photographed along with a written description of the animal," according to Carroll County officials. "Each animal will receive an examination by a veterinarian and rabies shot as well as being scanned for implanted microchips."

County officials have termed this a "rescue mission," which is being overseen by animal control officers and a Virginia Department of Agriculture veterinarian.
An individual care plan will be developed for each dog after the health assessments have been completed.
Virginia PAWS and the Humane Society of the United States will assist with these efforts.
"It is anticipated that a majority of the 980-plus animals will be evaluated and taken from the owner's property during the week of Nov. 5, 2007," county officials said. "Carroll County is committed to ensuring that none of the 980-plus animals will be placed back in the breeding of animals."
A long list of officials and their departments participated in the rescue effort, including Carroll County Sheriff's Office and the Hillsville Police Department, besides those already named.
The investigation continues.
"Carroll County is committed to the aggressive enforcement of all laws and regulations for the benefit of animals," the news release said.
"Carroll County is exceptionally grateful for the professional manner of all staff and of the cooperation and assistance of Virginia PAWS and other volunteer groups," it went on to say.
"Carroll County hopes that the manner in which this tragic situation has been handled will be a model for other similar situations nationwide."

The surrendered animals will be placed with rescue shelters to be adopted, Shain said. She noted it was a lot of animals to place, but authorities will try to find shelters as close as possible to reduce stress on the dogs.
Shain said it was nice to see quick action on this matter in Carroll County. "We hope other counties will follow." __________________________________________________

I am a voluneteer for the humane society, and I was at a meeting today. They are expecting to have 25 or so of these rescued dogs at the Charlotte Humane Society... they are desperately looking for Foster parents for two weeks till the puppies are up to date on all vacinations so they can enter the kennel. They said they would supply Crates and Food and all the needs of the dogs while under foster care. So if you know anyone who can foster a small breed puppy or dog for 2 weeks call the Humane society of Charlotte and volunteer!!!