Tuscarawas County Ohio
March 2008
The Humane Agent requested this dog to be surrendered. The breeder, seemingly spitefully, would not give up the dog. She was required to give her vet care where she was spayed and the tumor was removed, but you can see the conditions she still lives in.
A puppy mill ‘gone awry’?
By KATIE ALBERTI katie.alberti@timesreporter.com
March 17, 2008
Tuscarawas County Ohio
GNADENHUTTEN – More than 75 dogs were seized by Tuscarawas County humane officials Friday afternoon from a residence in the Riverside Rd. area near Gnadenhutten.
County Humane Officer Dawn Smitley called the residence a puppy mill gone awry with about 85 dogs living on the property in feces and trash.
“It’s a case of a puppy mill being overwhelmed,” she said. “There were too many dogs, and the reason they were seized is because of poor living conditions. Overall, the dogs are not in bad condition. It was just the conditions they were living in.”
Smitley said she would not release the name of the property owner because the person took a plea deal from the county prosecutor, resulting in no charges. However, charges could be filed at a later date once all of the dogs’ veterinary reports are completed.
Smitley said she learned of the dogs’ living conditions on Thursday when she visited the property after receiving several complaints about it.
The dogs – which include shih tzus, cocker spaniels, beagles, poodles, boxers and Chihuahuas – are being kept at the Tuscarawas County Fairgrounds at Dover where they will be available for adoption from 10 to 4 Saturday.
The dogs will be available for adoption at $25 each.
In addition to the fee, a $100 deposit is required that will be refunded once the owner shows proof that the dog was spayed or neutered.
Dogs up for adoption include shih tzus, cocker spaniels, beagles, poodles, boxers, Chihuahuas , basset hounds, terrier mixes and pugs. All of the dogs have been de-wormed and have been treated for ear mites and any other issues that could be treated.
To buy a dog, a veterinarian’s reference and two personal references are required to ensure the dogs are not going to a breeder or to another home with poor living conditions.
For those who would like to help without adopting an animal, humane officials are seeking donations of wet and dry food for puppies and grown dogs. Volunteers also are needed.
More information about the dogs, donating and volunteering is available by calling county Humane Officer Dawn Smitley at (330) 339-8968