Mississippi-area FOT: Save a puppy!

[Matt]

I got this e-mail at work today:

A friend of mine at Stephens just informed me that the Oxford, Mississippi Humane Society has received over 80 puppies from a raid on a puppy mill.  Once the puppies are cleared as far as their health, they will be put up for adoption.  Most of the puppies are purebred.  My friend's daughter, who volunteers at the shelter, says that they have beagles, yorkies, pugs, dachshunds, Maltese, and other medium to small breeds.  Below is a link to the Oxford H.S. website.  If you have been thinking about adopting a puppy, this could be your golden opportunity.

http://oxfordpets.com/

From the website:

The Humane Society of the United States Assists Mississippi Law Enforcement with Seizure of More Than 80 Dogs
 
   
September 1, 2009NEW ALBANY, Miss. — The Humane Society of the United States, in conjunction with the Union County Sheriff's Department, rescued more than 80 dogs and more than a dozen other animals from shockingly poor conditions at a Union County puppy mill. The puppy mill operators sold animals online, through newspaper ads and at local flea markets.   Complaints from local residents who purchased puppies directly from the facility prompted an investigation. Conditions were found to be so deplorable that law enforcement obtained an emergency search and seizure warrant. The puppy mill owners agreed to surrender the animals and are appearing in court today. According to the Union County Sheriff's Department, the primary owner, Mike Killough, faces 60 counts of animal cruelty and 60 counts of neglect. The other owner, Ricky Binet, faces 21 counts of animal cruelty and 21 counts of neglect.  Rescuers found small- to medium-size dog breeds such as dachshunds, Boston terriers, Chihuahuas and beagles housed in appalling conditions, including chicken coop-style
cages infested with maggots and cockroaches with no available food or water. Many of the dogs

suffered from eye and skin conditions, malnourishment and parasites.  "These animals have suffered tremendously just for the sake of profit," said Scotlund Haisley, senior director of Emergency Services at The HSUS. "We commend the Union County Sheriff's Department for their swift and effective efforts to give these animals an opportunity to have a better life. We are pleased that we could help on just hours notice." HSUS animal rescue teams were on the ground in Tennessee responding to another puppy mill Monday evening when they received the call for assistance and immediately drove to Mississippi. Working with the sheriff's office, The HSUS confiscated the animals and transported them to the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society where they will be evaluated and eventually put up for adoption.  This rescue operation is made possible in part from funding provided to The HSUS by the Kenneth and Lillian Wilde Trust, which created the Wilde Puppy Mill Task Force to rescue animals from abusive puppy mills.

So if you've been looking for a pet, now's the time to step up!

[iAmBaronVonTito]

this is bittersweet, but more on the sweet side.  its a shame to hear about animals being treated that way.  im an hour and a half or so from oxford.  i think i might hit this up within the month. 

[Spalding]

Central Mississippi reporting in.  This situation has gotten a lot of notice up in north Miss. and it sounds like folks are stepping forward - this comment was on nmisscommentor, a popular Oxford-based blog:

"The puppies are adorable. I wasn’t going to adopt one when I got there, but I decided to go for it! I hope I get approved. I have no reasons not to, but they have had over 60 applications since the bust."