Late this afternoon, a Montague county judge ruled in favor of the Humane Society of North Texas, giving HSNT custody of nearly 500 dogs rescued last week from a puppy mill in Bowie, Texas. The dogs, from Heddins Kennels/Maggic Pets Kennels, in Bowie, Texas, were emaciated, sick, and starving. I know. I helped care for them after they were rescued. I spent last weekend in Fort Worth a the warehouse where they were being held. I saw them. I cared for them. And I loved them.
Several "family dogs" will be returned to the kennel owners, Carol and Cloyce Heddins and those dogs will likely suffer a fate I cannot even imagine.
The Heddins were ordered to pay $40,000 to the Humane Society of North Texas for the cost of caring for the dogs, but so many were sick and needed expensive veterinary care that this heroic effort is likely to leave HSNT financially drained.
Regardless, most of the dogs are safe for now and Maggic Pets will soon be out of business. And the good guys will soon move on to raid another puppy mill, here or elsewhere, until one day our society wakes up and realizes that that those cute puppies in the window of the pet store are the reason puppy mills exist. If you buy a puppy from a pet store, you're enabling people like the Heddins to benefit financially from the suffering of animals. Putting pet stores out of business will put puppy mills out of business. It's as simple as that.
Comments
I worked there too and am adopting a 5 yr old dog, hopefully if it isn't one of her personal pets. But the only thing i see wrong in your article is the putting pet stores out of business, that could be rephrased as not letting them sell puppies or actually make them totally accountable to where this dog came from, which would limit the amount of dogs. I groomed there and shaved a bunch of those babies.. im saying the please dont be her personal pet prayer right now.
Sometimes you Animal Rights people make me sick, which is just about all the time.
These people were not found guilty, but the judge stole their personal property (Their dogs). The HSNT will experience a windfall profit of no less than $ 65,000 even if they kill 25.0% of the dogs which is likely for the dog to do so. The kennel owner got as bill from the court for an other 40,000 so this is a $ 100,000.00 money grab. No a bad days work for a gang of thieves..
Hey Karen, you have a good point and I usually advocate pet stores not go out of business, but find a way to facilitate adoptions rather than selling pets from puppy mills. There are some great boutique pet shops on California that have done just that and I applaud them as well as the big chains like PetsMart and Petco who have chosen adoption over selling cats and dogs. I apologize - I posted this not long after returning from several days helping care for all 500 of these dogs and I was exhausted and simply not thinking.
Dear "Guilty before Trial"...
Please recognize that my right (or yours) to destroy my personal 'hammer' or other non living 'thing' does not extend to me a right to mis-treat a living creature.
Oh.. I also wanted to mention that your misunderstanding of the economics of rescue operations is laughable. Save your outrage for another day, please.
Dear Guilty Before Trial:
NONE of the Heddins dogs will be euthanized, including the hundreds that have heartworms or mange due to neglect by the Heddins...including the one with a broken (and never treated) leg that may require amputation...including the old, emaciated, and unsocialized ones...and that is thanks not to the Heddins but to HSNT and the rescue community who stepped up and took on these dogs. Not one of the nearly 500 dogs from this raid was euthanized. Most of the dogs went to rescue groups who were not asked to reimburse HSNT for any of the expenses they incurred for the care of these dogs for the past two weeks, which was exemplary, I might add. You have no idea what you are talking about. The only thieves in this situation were the Heddins, who stole money from every person they ever sold a dog to.
Guilty before Trial,
You are sadly misguided. I spent several days feeding and cleaning up the Heddins "property" there were many many animals there that were emaciated, parasite infested, maimed and unsocialized.
A "windfall profit" really? Hmm after the animals, oh "property" are made healthy enough to find new homes HSNT and the other rescue groups that are now caring for them will be out quite a bit of money.
The proof was in front of me.
The $40,000.00 averages out to approx $80.00 per dog. Each dog had to be fed, watered and cleaned up after. Medical treatment costs varied from dog to dog.
A "windfall" or "money grab" I think not.
The chance for this "property" to be healthy and happy. The chance for this "property" to not have to reproduce constantly. The chance for this "property" to be loved absolutely.
With so much to say, I have to break this into severalcomments...
Although I have a few choice words for the ignorant “guilty before trial” person below, I choose to respond with logic that he/she is desperately lacking.
First, let me take a second to reiterate what many before me have already said — puppies do not equal property. In any given definition of the word, property refers to an inanimate object of material value, and in many cases can be objectively divisible. Puppies are capable of providing twice the amount of love at any given moment in time than they receive. In addition, countless studies have proven puppies have a positive effect on the social, emotional, and physical well-being of deserving and non-deserving people alike. Might I suggest you do a little more research before foolishly speaking publicly on this matter again.
To your point regarding the profit HSNT will reportedly receive, I have to ask please provide proof. Second, let’s just pretend for one minute they are even remotely accurate, I think I can speak on behalf of any humane person that the profit will be falling into FAR more deserving hands than the Heddins. So, you call them thieves, I call them angels. Thank you to EVERYONE who is responsible for the safety of these dogs.
Finally, IF any dog is euthanized that was rescued, I am confident it will be a humane decision, unlike the fate worst than death they were subjected to while in the care, and I use the term “care” loosely, of the Heddins. Absolutely no one stands to gain a profit by euthanizing any of the dogs, so again I am sure this is a moot point.
I think it is safe to say that the Heddins are incapable of owning any dog they haven’t placed a price tag on. So, as for the unfortunate few “family” dogs that had to be returned, I suggest we find out just how much the “family” “property” is worth and rescue them too. And you, guilty before trial, should any puppy be so unfortunate to land in your hands, please do me the pleasure of telling me how much you think your property is worth and I will gladly pay you double, as I am sure my ROI is unquantifiable.
Awesome article Rebecca...thank you for writing it and for going down and helping these poor animals...today they have a new chance to have a real life...please visit www.hsnt.org to see a thank you from HSNT...Guilty Before Trial is very ignorant...HSNT never profits as they have to see the way humans mistreat animals every day and every dollar that goes to them helps them try and fight that battle and to save a life...THLN is an organization that is trying to get the laws changed for better animal protection...oh and also Guilty Before Trial...I guess you would think the judge was stealing a child also if neglectful parents had to relinquish their rights....grow up...or call Carol I am sure she would love to hear from you
Guilty Before Trial is an idiot; and also probably in the Heddins back pocket. The Heddins profited for 30 years off the misery of God's creatures; there is no telling how many hundreds & hundreds of dogs suffered & died under their cruel care. Guilty before Trial, did you see the poor dog whose jaw was broken in 3 places & it was just left like that hanging open & could barely feed itself; what about the dog who has to have its leg amputated? You actually think it is acceptable for a person to do that to, I say again, one of God's living creatures??
"Guilty Before Trial" is simply either ignorant or a puppy mill breeder him/herself. I've adopted and fostered numerous rescue dogs; they were all very sick when I got them. My out of pocket to get them healthy was either into the hundreds or thousands, depending on the dog - none of which I regret. My saddest day - and happiest day - was seeing the look on rescue's face when she saw my backyard with grass and trees - she'd never walked on grass – her mouth actually fell open (wet grass turned out to be problematic). "Guilty" must be a puppy miller and, if so, you'll never convince him that these babies have feelings, can feel pain, and are a valued part of our society. I just wish for every inch of pain puppy millers inflict on their "property", it would somehow magically be felt by them.
what a lovely person you are to give animals a second chance,God Bless you
Guilty Before Trial,
If we make you so damn sick why are you bothering to read about us? Why would you care you moronic imbecile. You must be a very miserable piece of s__t! Mind your own business and stay out of where caring people belong.
I know a couple who went to that "kennel" to adopt a dog a couple weeks before the HSNT rescued them.
They said the conditions were horrific. The woman/owner lead them to a metal, windowless shed with a roll-up door to look at puppies. Keep in mind this is summer in Texas, over 100 degrees outside and they are being kept in an airless METAL container.
Stacks of wire cages piled on top of each other went to the ceiling. Dozens of dogs crammed in them, peeing and pooing on each other through the wire. The stench was unbelievable.
The owner snarled, "Go ahead and pick yerself one out." She wanted $500. They said no thank you and left quickly.
So don't give us that crap, Guilty Before Trial. This was animal cruelty plain and simple.
from New Zealand,am pleased that there was of sorts a happy ending for these lovely animals,just hope that the older dog's have a real chance to know real love before they pass away
As an owner of a Basset Hound that was auctioned off from a puppy mill in Missouri that was closing, I recognize the special needs these dogs will require in order to live a fulfilling life. 908 animals were auctioned off and most went to animal testing facilities. My Basset spent 5 1/2 years in wire cages, underfed, and often eating her own feces for food. When the male was put in the cage for breeding, he'd eat all the food and she was left to starve.
It took me 3 months to be able to pet her. She completely mistrusts people (I don't blame her a bit), and worries if I don't feed her on a schedule.
I see the worry and pain in her eyes every time someone comes in my house. I watch her run and hide. I see her pain and I feel it. If I ever get my hands on those puppy mill owners, you're likely to see me go to jail.
Why cruelty charges have not been filed boggles me, but PETA is petitioning the judge. I hope they rot in jail.
a few years ago i bought two black CHOW CHOW s from a Heddins Kennel in Bowie. I thought they only had Chow chows. is this the same kennel. I know longer have either of the dogs because of aggressive tendencies and being unable to train themwith verbal commands. you think this could be part of the problem.. one i got at 5 weeks of age, so i know he did not suffer at this kennel long, but the other was 4 months old. thanks
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