Last week Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his deputies of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s department seized 129 dogs (mostly Pugs and French Bulldogs) and 1 cat from a puppy mill in Tonopah, Arizona.
Sheriff Arpaio is on his way to Tonopah where deputies discovered this puppy mill. Look at the French Bulldogs. pic.twitter.com/tyvaZlvLkp
— Ofc. Chris Hegstrom (@MCSOChris) November 18, 2015
The dogs were living in filthy conditions inside the home–feces and urine was everywhere in sight.
Sheriff Arpaio is on his way to Tonopah where deputies discovered this puppy mill. Look at the French Bulldogs. pic.twitter.com/tyvaZlvLkp — Ofc. Chris Hegstrom (@MCSOChris) November 18, 2015
Arpaio explained that the owners, who were selling the dogs for $1,000, would meet people outside the home, so they would not see the conditions the dogs were coming from.
This is classic puppy mill protocol. When you go to pick out a breeder, insist on seeing where the puppy was living. If the breeder refuses and instead requires you to meet somewhere else, be very suspicious.
The dogs range from 6 months to 4 years of age and were taken to the MCSO Animal Safe Haven (MASH) Unit – a no-kill shelter, created by Sheriff Arpaio to house and care for animals that have been abused or neglected and rescued by the Animal Crimes Investigations Unit.
The unit makes sure all dogs are vet-checked, spayed/neutered, and started on a shot series before adoption. Inmates help with work at the shelter.
Watch the video from the seizure here:
The sheriff’s department is planning on donating some of the dogs to a veteran’s organization to be trained as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) service dogs. The rest will be available for adoption.
If you are interested in adopting on of these dogs or in donating to help with their care, visit the MASH website.
