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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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Published: April 8, 2008
Updated: 04/08/2008 04:47 pm
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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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Reader Comments
Posted by ( RobKay ) on April 8, 2008 at 6:19 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Someone needs to do some research on this. How do they verify that inspectors made the random visits they said they did? All this could not have changed in less than 2 months. Something is very wrong here.
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Posted by ( K9Justice ) on April 8, 2008 at 7:01 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Please bookmark* www.OprahAgainstPuppyMills.com
Under construction but coming soon
Inspired by Oprah Winfrey's show which aired on Friday April 4, 2008, this site will educate all pet lovers about how to identify a puppy mill and how to find a companion for your family without supporting the hideous puppy mill industry.
Questions/Comments webmaster@OprahAgainstPuppyMills.com
BEING BORN OF THE HUMAN RACE AS OPPOSED TO THE ANIMAL KINGDOM DOES NOT GIVE US MORE RIGHTS. IT GIVES US MORE RESPONSIBILITIES.
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Posted by ( cruzen ) on April 8, 2008 at 8:05 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is so sad that Pinellas County actually inspected this place and said it passed? This is crazy. Something has got to be done about our county animal services... this is horrible.
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Posted by ( satt65 ) on April 8, 2008 at 9:19 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
These problems never happen overnight.
The problem is that the Department of Agriculture and USDA believe that they work FOR the puppy mills, and exist to enable and protect these breeders.
State and federal inspectors have been whistleblowers and reported that state and USDA authorities have instructed them to let the puppy mill operators stay in business, let them keep doing what they are doing, even with huge abuses.
There are breeder lobbyists that have personal relationships with Department of Agriculture people.
That is the basic problem. The Department of Agriculture needs to work for the TAXPAYERS, not the breeders.
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Posted by ( babygirl ) on April 9, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I rescued a neglected "kennel dog", and she was so withdrawn & scared when she came to me. With lots of love & patience, I saw this neglected little girl blossom into the most loyal, loving sweet little girl you've ever seen. I have taken in abused & neglected dogs before this one. Once you gain their trust, they will do anything for you. Don't be afraid of adopting these babies. Just know that they have wounds that will take time to heal, and you are going to be their support system until they are better. Sure, there are animals that are mean and won't get over what has been done to them, but you would be too, given the same situation. My last little neglected angel was SUCH a BLESSING to see her come out of her shell and learn to trust again. DON'T be afraid to adopt a neglected animal -- each one is an individual with different needs. One thing they all have in common.. THEY DESERVE a chance at a happy life.
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Posted by ( CHITOMA1 ) on April 14, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Can someone explain this too me? Animal control, which is a government agency claims that this kennel has no violations. Rick who runs Suncoast Animal league was fired from animal control now has the right to storm in peoples homes without a warrant and take animals coz he thinks the animals are abused. I think putting leashes on animals is cruelty. Now does this give me a right to take your pet? I see big pet shop franchises putting pets in wire cages. I think that is cruelty. I don't see SAL rescuing these pets. Why? I think that Animal control should be questioned not this kennel. And why did the pinellas county sheriff back up the raid without a warrant? I AM REALLY CONFUSED! This is America we have laws.
FYI : I don't leash or cage my dog. She runs freely.
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Posted by ( CHITOMA1 ) on April 14, 2008 at 6:07 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
"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.
ANIMALS GETS SICK! Out of a 121 three are sick. Does not add up as animal abuse. I see photos of the kennel. Its well equiped with food hoppers and water and dog runs. Besides the photo in the news reveals that the puppies are not abused. We need the authorities to investigate this and not Suncoast Animal League.
So how did they sieze the dogs without a warrant?
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