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Published: 2012-08-03 19:22:00
Updated: 2012-08-07 09:04:52

Dozens of dogs seized in sting at alleged puppy mill


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Animal rescue groups and the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office seized more than 100 dogs from a suspected puppy mill Friday afternoon in Leland.

More Info     Focal Point: "Puppies and Politics" Focal Point: 'Puppies and Politics'

Kim Alboum, North Carolina director for the Humane Society of the United States, said the animals, which include poodles, Yorkshire terriers and shih tzus, have been living in tight, uncomfortable living conditions in a doublewide trailer without electricity.

Cages were stacked on top of one another, and in some instances, rescuers found cockroaches crawling on puppies.

Alboum described the living conditions as "atrocious."

"This is the worst puppy mill I have seen in North Carolina," she said. "Those animals inside that house were suffering immensely. It is filthy, disgusting."

Brunswick County sheriff's deputies arrested the dogs' owners, Andrew and Amelia Millis, of Wilmington, on charges of animal neglect and animal cruelty charges, but authorities did not have the exact charges Friday evening.

A final count on the number of dogs rescued also wasn't available.

They were being evaluated Friday evening and were to be taken in by animal rescue groups, including the SPCA of Wake County, where their health would be further evaluated before any dogs could be put up for adoption.

The SPCA said it will be a minimum of a week before any of the animals they receive will be put up for adoption.

Anyone interested in doing so should contact the SPCA.

According to the Humane Society, rescuers pulled 1,000 dogs out of puppy mills in North Carolina last year.

Friday's marked the ninth bust in the last 18 months.


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Latest Comments
Not cool :(

Put the puppy pup people in cages and see how they like it !!! Bad Humans !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The law needs to be strong and harsh. Stupidity, cruelty and greed will NEVER go away. Period.

Rick slick says it Best!

People in North Carolina need to wake up. North Carolina is a puppy milll state, because North Carolina laws are laughable. If people want to stop seeing animal cruelty on a wide spread scale, you need to elect officials who care enough to enact laws that will make a difference. People also need to write their representatives, and demand stronger laws. People also need to take some responsibility on their part, and start confronting these people. If more people were outspoken then there would be less puppy mills. Sitting at home, and saying "poor dogs, someone ought to do something;" will not fix the problem. Become part of the solution; get out of your house and do something about it!. Stop buying puppies from breeders! Volunteer with a rescue! Adopt a shelter/rescue dog or puppy! Speak to your neighbors about spaying/neutering their animals! Take a stand, and puppy mills will go away!

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