Neglected dogs find homes in Raleigh

Animal rescue centers are working to find homes for dozens of dogs seized from a Raleigh home on Thursday afternoon.

Posted 8:23 p.m. Aug 5, 2011 — Updated 1:25 a.m. Aug 7, 2011

RALEIGH, N.C. — Animal rescue centers are working to find homes for dozens of dogs seized from a Raleigh home on Thursday afternoon.

The Wake County Animal Center said the 67 dogs seized from 6608 Professor St. were kept in cages, sometimes two or three at a time, and appeared neglected. Some dogs had medical problems, including tumors, cancer and open sores, and others were so obese they could not stand on their own.

The Wake County Animal Center said 10 dogs had to be euthanized because their medical conditions were so severe.

Duda said the dog owners appeared to be breeders.

Police said 51 dogs were surrendered and 16 dogs and three cats were being held in protective custody.

The animals were transported to the Wake County Animal Shelter, where the dogs were checked by veterinarians.

On Friday, people showed up at the center hoping to adopt some of the animals in need.

Jimmie Kennemur and her daughter got to the Wake County Animal Center 45 minutes before it opened on Friday in order to adopt one of the dogs. They selected 3-year-old Shih Tzu with one eye. Kennemur said her children want to call him Blackbeard.

Blackbeard won't be able to go home with his new family until he is neutered.

Andre Pierce, with Wake County Environmental Services, said the shelter was overwhelmed by the raid and the response from people wanting to help.

"Although we have a situation where we have people who aren't providing proper care, on the flipside, we have a community really interested in animal welfare," Pierce said.

Rescue groups also helped take in and adopt out some of the dogs.

HEART pet rescue found foster families for three of the dogs. HEART President Heidi Miller said the dogs are expected to be available for adoption in about a week, barring any heath or behavioral issues. The dogs will be listed on the group's website.

Sound Pet Animal Rescue found foster homes for three of the animals taken from the house.

C.A.M.P. Rescue took in 10 of the dogs. More than half of them tested positive for heartworms, and most have life-threatening medical conditions, including one with a ruptured cancerous wound and severe chronic eye condition that might result in the loss of an eye.

C.A.M.P. Rescue is providing socialization skills for all of the rescued animals and will provide new home with some free day care services. Anyone interested in adopting a dog from C.A.M.P. Rescue should call 919-468-8301.

The Wake County Animal Center had one dog from the raid at the center for adoption on Friday afternoon. Three other dogs available for adoption are in foster care.

"We need to have mandatory spay and neuter laws, and we need to have a limit on how many animals a person can have," said Diane Sacripanti of the North Carolina Rottweiler Rescue, which is also helping find the dogs homes. "When people see a person who has numerous animals, they need to call law enforcement and turn these people in."

Other organizations helping the dogs are Have a Heart Pet Rescue, Falkner Animal Rescue and Recovery and the Atheneus Humanities Foundation.

The investigation is ongoing. No charges have been filed.

Property records for the home show it belongs to Salvatore and Betty Jane Barone, Carolyn Burnham and Barbara Woodworth.

In 2009, 5 on Your Side did a story about Burnham, who was associated with websites that advertised as breeders. At the time, those companies got an "F" rating on by the Better Business Bureau.

The companies are no longer in business, according to the Better Business Bureau.

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