Puppy Mill Bust Leaves Dogs Homeless

ARDMORE, Okla. -- More than 80 dogs were rescued Monday from a puppy mill in Marietta.

Twenty-five of the canines were sent to a shelter in Texas, while the rest were transported to Town and Country Animal Hospital in Ardmore.

The multiple breeds of dogs all suffer from health problems.

"Emaciated, dehydrated, they could be full of heartworms," Scott Sutherland of Southern Oklahoma Animal Resources said.

One of the worst cases the volunteers have seen is Faith, a hairless, thin and pregnant cocker spaniel.

"It's horrible, it's horrible," volunteer Patti Cain said.

Cain was the first of the volunteers to see the dogs who left to fend for themselves.

"It's horrible somebody would do this to these animals," Cain said.

Cain cried when she saw Beethoven, a neglected dog, touch grass for the first time. Volunteers could tell the dog never experienced grass before because of the long nails on his paws.

"He has probably been in a cage," one volunteer said. "Let out to breed and put back in the cage."

With the multiple problems the dogs suffer from, some of their futures remain uncertain.

Many residents in Ardmore have extended their help to the helpless animals.

"They're buying a pig in a pipe, don't know what they're getting, but they want to help," one volunteer said.

Even though the location took in more than 50 of the dogs, the rancher who discovered them said there are more dogs still roaming on the property.

The new dogs coming into the facility will be up for adoption. Anyone interested can call the Town and Country Animal Hospital at (580) 223-0472 or visit the facility at 2310 S. Commerce Street in Ardmore.

Colleen Chen, NEWS 9