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These dogs were two of the 52 dogs rescued from an Indiana puppy mill Oct. 8. ©Crump/The HSUS |
More than 60 animals saved from a Fairbanks, Ind., puppy mill are now on their way to better lives thanks to the diligent efforts of local authorities and local and national humane organizations Oct. 8. The animals included 52 dogs, 10 horses, four cats, and one goat.
"The puppy mill industry affects many hundreds of thousands dogs every year in this country, but today we have been able to free 52 dogs from this horrendous cycle of abuse," said Anne Sterling, The Humane Society of the United States' Indiana state director. "It is extremely gratifying to know that we have given these animals the opportunity to experience the joys of life outside the confines of their squalid cages."
Rescue Mission
The HSUS was there from the beginning acting as the lead animal welfare organization for this rescue mission. The HSUS was called in to assist Indiana State Police with the rescue and care of these animals. They were joined by members of the Humane Society of Missouri, Indiana Animal Care and Control, dedicated local volunteers and veterinarians as well as the USDA Office of the Inspector General.
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Squalid Conditions
The property owner voluntarily agreed to surrender 67 animals to the care of The HSUS. These animals were rescued from squalid living conditions on the 20-acre property. Many of these dogs were emaciated and suffered from obvious medical conditions such as open sores and severe skin conditions.
These animals will be transported to the Sullivan County 4H Fairgrounds, where an emergency shelter has been set up to comfortably house all of the dogs. Once at the shelter, every animal will be assessed by a veterinarian and given any necessary medical attention. They will then be transferred to humane organizations where they will be evaluated and placed for adoption.
Fighting the Abuse
The HSUS has long fought the abuse rampant in U.S. puppy mills and works to stop this abuse on multiple fronts through its Stop Puppy Mills campaign. United States animal shelters euthanize 3 million to 4 million cats and dogs every year, and yet pet industry statistics show that about one-third of the nation's 11,000 pet stores continue to sell puppies. Many of these dogs come from puppy mills—mass commercial breeding operations that put profit above the health and welfare of the puppies and their parents.
