Last Tuesday, January 17, 2012, a State Trooper in Tennessee pulled over two women on I-40 for a traffic violation. What he found was shocking: 144 dogs and one cat stuffed into a U-Haul truck and the mini-van it was towing. According to The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, “The dogs were filthy, hungry, thirsty and living in the squalor from several days on the road without a break for air or to relieve themselves.”
The State Trooper moved the truck to the Pilot Travel Center parking lot so they could begin safely unloading the dogs. Fayette County Animal Rescue and the Collierville Animal Shelter immediately responded. The Commercial Appeal reporter describes the scene this way: “There were kennels with four and five dogs packed inside. The animals were dirty and standing in their own feces. A few snarled at people passing, but most just whimpered and pawed at their cages. Some containers were nothing more than dog houses with the doors covered with wire grates attached by plastic ties.”
The Associated Press reports that all the dogs “were locked in cages with tie-fasteners and no ventilation. Most of the dogs were injured or emaciated and one was found dead”. The dogs are all small breeds, mainly terrier, poodle and Chihuahua mixes. About half were spayed or neutered.
An investigation revealed that the women were moving their rescue group, Hearts for Hounds, from Long Beach, California to Huddleston, Virginia. According to the Hearts for Hounds Facebook page, they are 501(c)(3) dog rescue that has found homes for more than 12,000 dogs since 1997. The page goes on to say that, “Because of our impeccable records, we are recognized by the State of California as an organization that benefits the community.” But Long Beach Animal Care Services reports the group had been on their radar since 2010, when they were given a "notice to comply" after complaints of overcrowding of the animals.
The women apparently left Long Beach, CA on Sunday.
Both were charged in Tennessee with 128 counts of aggravated animal cruelty, a Class E felony, and were jailed on $100,000 bond.
American Humane Association’s Red Star™ Animal Emergency Services team is caring for the dogs, who are, for now at least, evidence in this case, in an emergency shelter where they are receiving medical attention. Volunteers are struggling to identify each dog, some of which have microchips. The dogs will remain at the shelter until a court hearing to determine ownership.
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Copyright Rebecca Poling 2011. All rights reserved.
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