Almost 200 more still are there, waiting for rescuers. Officials hope all the animals will be removed within a week.
“This is the beginning of the life that they deserve,” said Jennifer Kulina-Lanese, a field responder for the Humane Society of the United States.
The national agency was called because the situation was too massive for local humane agents to handle.
“This is a happy, happy day,” Kulina-Lanese said after liberating the dogs.
The animals were signed over to the Humane Society of Richland County this week. Humane agent Missy Houghton said the Chihuahuas and shar-peis were not healthy, suffering from skin issues, eye problems, fleas, overgrown nails and decay.
The facility is just outside Shelby, although its precise location is not being released by officials to protect the safety of the dogs.
The licensed kennel, about 900 square feet, is being classified as a puppy mill, a term Houghton said is used whenever an excessive number of dogs is housed in poor conditions with the intent to sell.
The kennel was overrun with fleas and other insects, with feces caked on the floors.
Houghton said two to four Chihuahuas were packed into each wire cage, stacked two tall. The shar-peis were in indoor-outdoor pens.
“Anytime you have this large number of animals, at some point you become reckless with their care because you can’t possibly take care of close to 300 dogs properly,” Houghton said.
No charges will be filed because the owner is an elderly woman under hospice care.
Her husband, who had been caring for the dogs, died of a heart attack a week ago.
Houghton said she thinks the dogs went without food during that week before her agency was called.
Around 10 a.m. Friday, rescue groups from across the state, including CHA Animal Shelter, Star-Mar Rescue, Wolf Spirit and the Humane Society of Greater Dayton, brought in dozens of crates to remove the dogs. RedRover, a national nonprofit animal advocacy organization, also sent volunteers.
“Is that the happy, smooshy girl?” asked Houghton, referring to a wrinkly shar-pei, as a rescuer carried a dog out in her arms.
“Here,” Houghton said with a laugh as she kissed the dog’s face. “It’s worth it — they make me break out in hives.”
“We’re taking 16 senior Chihuahuas,” said Martha Leary, the president of Star-Mar. “We always take in older dogs because we know they’re harder to get adopted. Sometimes we have them for a long time, but they need homes, too. We can’t leave them behind. I think every rescue who takes young should take old, too.”
Leary urges people to contact their legislators to pass Senate Bill 130, which would regulate high volume breeders.
“There are basically no laws in Ohio to protect against this,” she said, gesturing toward the kennel. “Hoarders come here to hide. This cannot happen.”
Houghton said veterinarians are on site to check each dog.
“The dogs have made a complete turnaround,” Houghton said. “They were so subdued when we first found them, but now you can see they’re all barking and lively. The Chihuahuas are supposed to be peppy little things, and now we’re starting to see that.”
A friend of the family, who was on site to assist, bent down to kiss a few of the dogs goodbye.
“I told you this would happen,” he whispered. “I promised you.”
Tags: dog hoarders, dog kennel, dog rescue, Dogs saved, Puppy Mill