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Dogs Rescued From Puppy Mill Available At SPCA Tampa Bay

Tribune photo by MICHAEL SPOONEYBARGER

Dogs rescued from a puppy mill in North Carolina are being cared for by Disaster Animal Response Team members at the SPCA Tampa Bay in Largo.

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TBO.com

Published: February 18, 2009

Updated: 02/18/2009 11:56 am

TAMPA - The first 10 from a group of dogs rescued from a North Carolina puppy mill this month are going up for adoption today at the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Tampa Bay. About 30 cars lined up outside the gate this morning for a chance to adopt the dogs.

The poodles and Pomeranians won't be heading out any time soon. Rather, prospective owners filled out adoption paperwork today, hoping to be one of the 10 accepted for dog ownership.

The shelter is at 9099 130th Ave. N. in Largo.

The adoption fee is $150, said Nora Hawkins, marketing director for the chapter. That covers some of the cost of veterinary care for the rescued dogs.

All are purebreds, but none have papers, she said. Applications must be completed for interested pet owners to qualify. Applications for other dogs beyond the first batch of 10 are not being accepted yet.

Applications for the second and third lots of 10 will be available on Friday and Saturday, Hawkins said.

It's first come, first served, and people who showed up today and don't get dogs have to come in on those days to fill out the applications again.

Most of the puppies won't be ready to leave the shelter for another month, she said. Many are undergoing treatment for ringworm and other ailments, and that takes time.

These are dogs with special needs, she said.

"This is what people don't always understand, about puppy mill dogs," she said. "These animals lived in cages. They don't know what its like to live in a home with a family. They don't understand freedom.
That's why we call them projects.

"They are not house trained," she said. "They are scared and shy. It will take time to bring them back to the wonderful personalities that we love in our companion animals."

But they dogs are doing well, she said.

The SPCA Tampa Bay Web site said that executive director Beth Lockwood and operations director Connie Brooks drove to North Carolina on Feb. 10 to help in the seizure of more than 300 dogs.

They returned with 74 purebreds, between 4 months and 12 years old. There are Chihuahuas, Lhasa apsos, Maltese, miniature pinschers, Pekinese, Pomeranians and poodles.

Many suffer from serious ailments and were housed in filth. They were emaciated, had lacerations with matted fur and skin, and had eye infections, the Web site said.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760.

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