Recently-rescued Los Angeles puppy mill dogs are one step closer to forever homes
To read the original story of the dogs’ rescue, click here.
Jennifer Krause, Best Friends campaign specialist, has been on the ground, up to her elbows in little rescued dogs since last Friday. Last Friday she said, “It’s pretty different now; we’re down from forty dogs to just eleven.”
Since last week when Best Friends first learned that there could be forty or more dogs released from a Lancaster County commercial kennel, staff has been working overtime to arrange for safe places for all the dogs to go. Jennifer has been helping coordinate the dogs’ interim care, while back at the sanctuary, Animal Help manager Liz Finch has been arranging the dogs’ placement with appropriate rescue groups. She said, “We tapped into our network of rescue groups in Los Angeles, focusing on ones that had been at our
Super Adoption just a week earlier. We knew they’d be more likely to have space.”
As groups responded, Liz matched each up with a few dogs that seemed to best fit the group, without overburdening any of them. “These dogs will likely need a lot of medical care, so we wanted to spread the dogs out somewhat.” With a handful of groups agreeing to take five or so dogs each, the job was quickly finished—at least that part was.
Learning about life—and TOYSThe first group to pick up dogs, Lhasa Happy Homes (LHH), was also the first to get their dogs settled, and the progress reports are already coming in. Randee Goldman, director of the organization, said, “All the kids -- India, Rugby, Merci, Tamale and Arlo, who are now at LHH are having a wonderful time!! They were SHOCKED when they saw toys.” Now, she reports, the five dogs in her care are learning to walk on a leash and to go up and down stairs—“normal” things that they’ve never experienced before.
Pictured left: Tamale, with her toysRandee has years of experience with the small breeds she rescues; Shih Tzus, Maltese, and Lhasa Apsos, which is the best scenario, according to Liz. She said, “It’s great to find a group that specializes in a certain breed because they know what kind of home is best for that breed, and people seeking out that breed will come to them looking for a pet.”
What were pet store customers paying for?Randee’s expertise also made her more aware of certain aspects of these purebred dogs, since she works with so many of the same breed. We know that World Kennel used these dogs for breeding, and sold puppies to area pet stores. Puppies then sold for thousands of dollars in Los Angeles pet stores.
But, Randee said, “My feeling about these dogs is that while they maybe purebred dogs, they absolutely are not well bred dogs and certainly should not be commanding thousand dollar price tags. One Shih Tzu has long legs and a pointy head; and several are really bow-legged...one Shih Tzu (India) even looks like a Lhasa Apso to me!” None of that matters to LHH, or any of the groups who only want to care for the dogs and find them good homes, but it certainly raises eyebrows to think that unsuspecting customers were fooled into thinking that a puppy’s high price tag equals “high quality.”
One little Maltese, now named Zelda, was discovered to have a severe congenital heart murmur. It’s a miracle Zelda has lived this long, vets say, since puppies usually don’t survive the type of murmur she has unless it’s repaired with surgery. The chance that Zelda’s puppies were born, and subsequently sold, with the same condition is very good. LHH now must prepare for a $4,000 surgery to correct Zelda’s heart condition.
Pictured above: Millie says, “my puppies sold for HOW much?Many hands make light workAs of today, all the dogs are either already with rescue groups, or will soon be on their way. Jennifer said, “The groups have been really supportive and sweet. They’ve all been so excited when they see the dogs, and the dogs have been happy to go with them.” Below is a list of groups that have taken in dogs from this rescue case. If you would like to help, learn how to adopt a dog, or donate, visit their websites. Many thanks to each of them! (And, stay tuned for more information about the five dogs on their way to Best Friends in Utah).
AZ Cocker Rescue:
www.azcockerrescue.orgAZ Dachshund Rescue and Sanctuary:
azdachshundrescue.comBrittany Foundation:
brittanyfoundation.homestead.comLhasa Happy Homes:
www.lhasahappyhomes.orgLittle Bow Wow:
www.littlebowwowrescue.comPups and Pals:
www.pupsandpals.netYorkshire Terrier Club of Los Angeles (Rescue):
www.ytcla.com/Yorkie_Rescue.html By Kelli Ohrtman: Best Friends Animal SocietyPhotos (except inset of Tamale) by Clay Myers: Best Friends Animal Society