Puppy Mill Updates

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August 7, 2008
We have recently learned that the Office of the State Attorney for Pinellas County has filed a 46-count information against Teresita Hughes for cruelty to animals. Each count is for misdemeanor animal cruelty, punishable by up to one year imprisonment and/or up to a $5,000 fine for each count. Ms. Hughes' arraignment is scheduled for August 18, 2008. We will keep you updated, as we learn more. Thank you for your continued support.

Update: July 24, 2008

The custody hearing for the 121 dogs took place as scheduled on Wednesday, July 23. The judge ruled that some of the dogs (a number to be determined at a later date) are to be returned to Teresita Hughes in 10 days.

We know many of you are disappointed by the hearing outcome, however, on April 7, 2008 we made a commitment to these dogs, and that commitment has only grown stronger throughout the 108 days we have cared for them. Therefore, we will take advantage of all legal options.

We will keep you updated, as we learn more. Thank you for your continued support.

Update: May 1, 2008

Custody:
On Thursday April 24th, the Suncoast Animal League filed court documents seeking custody of the 121 dogs which were taken from the puppy mill on April 7, 2008. At this time we have not been provided a court date, however, it should be sometime within the next couple of weeks.

Medical Conditions:
Several veterinarians and vet technicians have examined and documented the myriad of medical problems affecting these little dogs. To give you an idea of what we have been facing over the past three weeks, here’s a simplified version of what they’re telling us…

While some dogs have no teeth at all, more than 75 of them are in need of major dental work in order to keep infection from spreading through their tiny bodies. More than 20 of the dogs will require major knee surgery in order to correct their walk and several require the surgery to help with the pain they’re experiencing. Various types of skin problems have been seen in over 20 dogs. Ear and eye problems also seem to be a common medical issue, both being observed in nearly 30 dogs. Several dogs have mastitis or other post pregnancy problems while others suffer from paw problems, related to spending all of their time on wire bottom cages.

Now let’s talk about the more serious, life-threatening conditions we’ve encountered…

At least four of the dogs have a collapsed trachea, which sends them into coughing/choking type of attacks and limits their activity. Tumors of various sorts afflict nearly 10 of the dogs, with surgery already being required on a few. Heart conditions are greatly affecting four dogs, especially one puppy that underwent an echocardiogram last week. The prognosis is not good, but the vets are still working with her. Please keep the little pup in your thoughts. She needs all the help she can get!

And then there’s the little Pomeranian we named Henry, who spent his first seven days being shuttled between a vet’s office during the day and an emergency vet’s office at night. His heart is so bad he required oxygen around the clock. He is doing better, but the situation is still touch and go. Fortunate for Henry, Dr. Stanton of AA Animal Emergency Center decided to foster the ailing dog herself. Lucky pup!

Then there’s the puppy found in a back cage suffering from a prolapsed rectum, which is a condition in which rectal tissue protrudes through the anal opening. This little pup was unresponsive when we first found her, most likely from the pain, but after a week of critical care, she seems to have rebounded and is on the path to recovery.


Another Pomeranian we named George, came to us with a severe neurological problem. After a few days in our care, a sweet and gentle personality started to show. We all fell in love with him, and now this happy-go-lucky guy doesn’t seem to have a care in the world, despite the fact that he has a difficult time standing up or sitting still without falling over. We are still trying to figure out what can be done about his condition. The best we can do for him right now is keep him comfortable, which is exactly what his foster mom is doing. More about George in a future update.

Two weeks ago we all experienced a good scare when one Pomeranian went into total renal failure. We were told he probably wouldn’t survive the night, but a miracle swept over him, and somehow he made it. He is still under the vet’s care, but his condition has improved greatly and we’re all very happy for him.

Unfortunately, the miracle skipped one female Pomeranian. Just a couple of days after she was taken out of the puppy mill she succumbed to the effects of pyometra, which is an infection of the uterus. Sadly, she never recovered, but thankfully, she is our only casualty to date. One other female Pomeranian also suffered from pyometra, but has been successfully treated and is doing well.

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We cannot emphasize enough how important it is that the public be made aware of situations such as this. Puppy mills are everywhere, all around us. Pet stores receive their “supplies” from large farming puppy mills, which operate mainly out of the Mid-West region of the United States. Smaller puppy mills, such as Raffinan Kennels, sell most of their “stock” to individuals over the Internet, a practice which in recent years has turned into a multi-million dollar industry.

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