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Pinellas Kennel Had Clean Record Until This Week

News Channel 8 photo by WALLY PATANOW

This is one of more than 100 small-breed dogs seized Monday from a suspected puppy-mill operation in Tarpon Springs. About 60 of the dogs are recovering at the Sheldegren Pet Resort in Safety Harbor.

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By YOLANDA FERNANDEZ | News Channel 8
and STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 8, 2008

Updated: 04/08/2008 04:47 pm

TARPON SPRINGS - Teresita Hughes, the kennel owner who lost about 120 dogs as part of an animal neglect investigation Monday, passed all of her county inspections during the past 10 years, with the most recent inspection in February, according to records with Pinellas County Animal Services.

Pinellas Sheriff's deputies were called to Hughes' house at 339 Ranch Road on Monday by the Florida Department of Agriculture and the Suncoast Animal League, Pinellas Sheriff's Sgt. Jim Bordner said.

Deputies found more than 120 small-breed dogs living in small wire crates inside the home, with each enclosure containing two to eight dogs, Bordner said. Many of the dogs were living in their own feces, and appeared to have no opportunity for exercise outside the crates.

One of the animals had pneumonia, another had a broken leg, and a third had rectal problems, Rick Chaboudy, of the Suncoast Animal League, said.

About 60 of the animals were being tended to at the Sheldegren Pet Resort in Safety Harbor. Mary Ann Engelmann, the owner, said some of the dogs were shaved because their coats were matted with feces.

The remaining animals were at an animal hospital, the Suncoast Animal League shelter, or had been given up for adoption, Chaboudy said.

Hughes has been a licensed kennel owner with the county 10 years. Records show that every time an inspector made a random visit, they found conditions for the dogs were acceptable.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com. Yolanda Fernandez can be reached at yfernandez@wfla.com or (727) 536-8360.

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