Hundreds rescued in puppy mill raid

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In Carroll County, Virginia, more than 500 dogs were spared the fate of spending another harsh winter outdoors. In the fall of 2007, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), along with shelters up and down the eastern seaboard, rescued them in what is the state's biggest puppy mill bust ever.

The rescue is the second of its kind in the state in recent weeks. On October 14, 2007, Best Friends Animal Society, of Kanab, Utah, pulled 179 dogs and puppies from a breeder operating without in a permit in Bland County, Virginia.

The rescues were each part of a larger effort--spearheaded by leading animal welfare agencies, such as HSUS and Best Friends--to expose the mistreatment and squalid conditions rampant in puppy mills across the country.

Stepped up attack on puppy mills

Nikki Sharp, Campaign Manager of Best Friends, says that her organization has made the puppy mill issue a top priority.

"Our mission has always been to care for homeless animals," she says. "So we started looking at the reasons for homelessness. We found many dogs are surrendered or abandoned when they develop health problems--a direct result of irresponsible breeding and horrendous conditions in puppy mills."

Her organization, and others, are seeing increasing public support for their dramatic actions. One reason for the growing interest in animal welfare issues are high-profile animal abuse cases, like former NFL star Michael Vick's dog fighting ring. "His actions have put animal welfare issues very much on the public radar," says Lisa Beal, Campaigns Director of Last Chance for Animals, an animal protection group based in Los Angeles.

Cruel conditions

The Carroll County rescue came on the heels of Best Friends' Bland County October, 2007, rescue. After a fire the previous spring claimed the lives of 200 dogs at a puppy mill operating without a permit, Best Friends stepped in to make recommendations  [Continued]

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