1,000 Dogs Rescued in West Va. Kennel Raid
Description
Pet Pulse Staff Reports
August 28, 2008
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. -- Perhaps the largest animal rescue operation in West Virginia history is ongoing after Saturday’s raid and shutdown of Whispering Oaks Kennel, resulting in the removal of nearly 1,000 purebred dogs found living in squalor, according to authorities.
Whispering Oaks, an Internet-based business, had been breeding dachshunds since 1961, according to its Web site.
“The dogs were confined sometimes four or five to a cage measuring just two feet by three feet,” said Rich Crook, rapid response manager for Best Friends Animal Society. “Many cages had feces in them. All had poor ventilation.
“The sheer number of animals was overwhelming, and the odor of urine in 90-plus degree heat was stifling.”
The Humane Society of the United States says it stepped in after local authorities went to the property in response to complaints that its owner was discharging pollution without a permit.
Best Friends Animal Society is on site working with local Wood County law enforcement officials, the Humane Society of Parkersburg and the Humane Society of the United States. Late Saturday they began rescuing scores of dogs from the kennels.
“They found a grossly overrun breeding facility wrought with obvious animal neglect,” according to the Humane Society’s Web site,HSUS.org
After being contacted in advance of the raid by the Humane Society of Parkersburg, “The HSUS was appointed lead animal welfare agency on this case, and had spent weeks preparing for the complexities of caring for what was expected to be, and indeed became, a heart-breaking number of animals,” the HSUS Web site says.
The dogs rescued were mostly dachshunds, but many Yorkies, King Charles Cavaliers, Poodles and Jack Russells bred on the facility. Breeding dogs were housed in small rabbit hutches throughout the property, many with no access to water in the potentially deadly 95-degree heat.
“While the condition of the animals wasn't the very worst our team has witnessed in such raids, one person simply cannot properly care for 1,000 animals,” the HSUS site said.
Humane Society volunteers worked around the clock, helping each dog get examined. Just removing such a large number of dogs from the kennel was been daunting.
An emergency shelter was set up for the dogs. They are now being transported to humane organizations across the nation, to be evaluated and adopted out. Dogs have already been sent to Washington, D.C., and Dayton, Ohio.
“They have been in the kennel their entire lives,” Roe said. “Some have never been touched, but these dogs are very resilient. Most will make good family pets. They will have a chance to be the type of dogs they couldn’t have been before.
“These are very adoptable dogs. The fact they are all purebred is certainly going to help.”
Wood County Prosecutor Ginny Conley, as well as other officials, would not give the kennel owner’s name. The Whispering Oaks Kennel Web site, however, lists the owner as Sharon Roberts.
So far, the kennel owner has not been cited for any animal neglect-related charges, according to Conley. The owner agreed to never operate a dog-breeding business again, Conley says.
“The owner, once confronted, was very cooperative and surrendered all of the dogs,” Conley said. “Over the last six months, the owner realized the need for downsizing.
“We showed up and had the resources to do that. We solved a problem today,” she said.
The Humane Society needs blankets and towels for the dogs, but most of all monetary donations, according to Scotlund Haisley, senior director of emergency services for the HSUS. The rescue operation could easily cost $100,000, he says.
To donate or volunteer to help with the dog rescue, call the Humane Society of Parkersburg at 304-422-5541.
August 28, 2008
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. -- Perhaps the largest animal rescue operation in West Virginia history is ongoing after Saturday’s raid and shutdown of Whispering Oaks Kennel, resulting in the removal of nearly 1,000 purebred dogs found living in squalor, according to authorities.
Whispering Oaks, an Internet-based business, had been breeding dachshunds since 1961, according to its Web site.
“The dogs were confined sometimes four or five to a cage measuring just two feet by three feet,” said Rich Crook, rapid response manager for Best Friends Animal Society. “Many cages had feces in them. All had poor ventilation.
“The sheer number of animals was overwhelming, and the odor of urine in 90-plus degree heat was stifling.”
The Humane Society of the United States says it stepped in after local authorities went to the property in response to complaints that its owner was discharging pollution without a permit.
Best Friends Animal Society is on site working with local Wood County law enforcement officials, the Humane Society of Parkersburg and the Humane Society of the United States. Late Saturday they began rescuing scores of dogs from the kennels.
“They found a grossly overrun breeding facility wrought with obvious animal neglect,” according to the Humane Society’s Web site,HSUS.org
After being contacted in advance of the raid by the Humane Society of Parkersburg, “The HSUS was appointed lead animal welfare agency on this case, and had spent weeks preparing for the complexities of caring for what was expected to be, and indeed became, a heart-breaking number of animals,” the HSUS Web site says.
The dogs rescued were mostly dachshunds, but many Yorkies, King Charles Cavaliers, Poodles and Jack Russells bred on the facility. Breeding dogs were housed in small rabbit hutches throughout the property, many with no access to water in the potentially deadly 95-degree heat.
“While the condition of the animals wasn't the very worst our team has witnessed in such raids, one person simply cannot properly care for 1,000 animals,” the HSUS site said.
Humane Society volunteers worked around the clock, helping each dog get examined. Just removing such a large number of dogs from the kennel was been daunting.
An emergency shelter was set up for the dogs. They are now being transported to humane organizations across the nation, to be evaluated and adopted out. Dogs have already been sent to Washington, D.C., and Dayton, Ohio.
“They have been in the kennel their entire lives,” Roe said. “Some have never been touched, but these dogs are very resilient. Most will make good family pets. They will have a chance to be the type of dogs they couldn’t have been before.
“These are very adoptable dogs. The fact they are all purebred is certainly going to help.”
Wood County Prosecutor Ginny Conley, as well as other officials, would not give the kennel owner’s name. The Whispering Oaks Kennel Web site, however, lists the owner as Sharon Roberts.
So far, the kennel owner has not been cited for any animal neglect-related charges, according to Conley. The owner agreed to never operate a dog-breeding business again, Conley says.
“The owner, once confronted, was very cooperative and surrendered all of the dogs,” Conley said. “Over the last six months, the owner realized the need for downsizing.
“We showed up and had the resources to do that. We solved a problem today,” she said.
The Humane Society needs blankets and towels for the dogs, but most of all monetary donations, according to Scotlund Haisley, senior director of emergency services for the HSUS. The rescue operation could easily cost $100,000, he says.
To donate or volunteer to help with the dog rescue, call the Humane Society of Parkersburg at 304-422-5541.
