Volunteers caring for 24 dogs taken from Indian Trail home
by Deborah Parkhill Mullis
by Deborah Parkhill Mullis
Union County Animal Services recently asked rescue organization, Animal Adoption League of York County, S.C., for assistance after 29 dogs taken from an alleged puppy mill ended up at the county shelter.
Having received multiple calls in the past about animal abuse in Indian Trail, Sheriff’s Deputy Todd Cunningham investigated the South Fork Road property of Ricky Dean Mullis on Dec. 31, where he found more than two dozen small dogs shivering in raised wire cages caked with excrement – with nothing more than their matted fur to keep them warm. Mullis, 47, said he couldn’t afford the dogs after inheriting them from his mother and agreed to turn them over to animal control officers.
“Some were fairly healthy, some were borderline, but most of them were older and in bad shape with missing teeth, tumors, abdominal hernias (from being bred too frequently), heartworms and other health issues,” said Lt. Michelle Starnes, director of Union County Animal Services, which held the Chihuahuas, Maltese dogs and Shih Tzus as evidence until Jan. 20.
Lack of socialization was another reason Animal Services couldn’t put the majority of the dogs up for adoption at the county shelter. “We had to throw towels over some of them to catch them,” said Starnes, who helped groom the dogs before their release.
Having received multiple calls in the past about animal abuse in Indian Trail, Sheriff’s Deputy Todd Cunningham investigated the South Fork Road property of Ricky Dean Mullis on Dec. 31, where he found more than two dozen small dogs shivering in raised wire cages caked with excrement – with nothing more than their matted fur to keep them warm. Mullis, 47, said he couldn’t afford the dogs after inheriting them from his mother and agreed to turn them over to animal control officers.
“Some were fairly healthy, some were borderline, but most of them were older and in bad shape with missing teeth, tumors, abdominal hernias (from being bred too frequently), heartworms and other health issues,” said Lt. Michelle Starnes, director of Union County Animal Services, which held the Chihuahuas, Maltese dogs and Shih Tzus as evidence until Jan. 20.
Lack of socialization was another reason Animal Services couldn’t put the majority of the dogs up for adoption at the county shelter. “We had to throw towels over some of them to catch them,” said Starnes, who helped groom the dogs before their release.
Enter Animal Adoption League
“We want to take the dogs that are never going to make it to the adoption floor at the shelter – the ones with health issues, the ones that are too shy or have fear aggression,” said Cindy Starkey, Animal Adoption League dog coordinator.
The dogs need time to recover, Starkey said. “The number of dogs coming into the (county) shelter is overwhelming and there is only so much space available. We want to help the ones that would otherwise be euthanized.”
Undaunted by the snow storm, Starkey and other AAL volunteers picked up 24 of the dogs from the shelter on Jan. 20. AAL had medical assessments done that same afternoon and coordinated with the Iredell County Humane Society to get the dogs to breed-specific rescue organizations or into foster homes pending permanent adoptions.
“Animal Adoption League agreed to pay their medical (expenses) and save as many of them as they could. We certainly would rather them take them than us put them to sleep or the county taxpayers have to pay for their medical (expenses) when they’re not adoptable. We’ve worked out a good compromise,” said Sheriff Eddie Cathey.
As for the other five dogs, one Chihuahua is up for adoption at the animal shelter, one is being fostered by an animal control officer and another has been adopted by an animal control officer. Two of the puppies died of parvo. Puppies are particularly susceptible to canine parvovirus which can be prevented by vaccinations. None of the dogs were up-to-date on their vaccinations so Animal Services vaccinated every dog.
“These are not dogs that are going to last many more years. They’ve gone through enough. Even if it’s nothing but nine or 10 months sitting on somebody’s lap in a cozy house that will make it worth it for me,” Starnes said.
“I only have praise for the way this was handled, starting with Sheriff Cathey to Lt. Starnes to Pat Raynor,” said Pat Shannon, AAL board member. “Such a large group of dogs quickly become a project. The shelter staff went above and beyond in their care for these dogs.
“We hope to continue working with the Union County animal shelter,” Shannon added.
Mullis has been charged with animal cruelty and failure to vaccinate dogs over four months of age. Both charges are misdemeanors. His court date is February 4.
For information about adopting an animal through Animal Adoption League or to make a donation visit www.mynextpet.com
This article was published in Union County Weekly, Jan. 23-29, 2009 issue.
No comments:
Post a Comment