800 small dogs seized from filthy Arizona home

[babylonsister]

800 small dogs seized from filthy Arizona home
Elderly residents said to be overwhelmed trying to care for tiny hordes

updated 10:15 p.m. ET March 12, 2008



TUCSON, Ariz. - About 800 small dogs, including Chihuahuas, terriers and Pomeranians, were seized from a triple-wide mobile home whose occupants were overwhelmed trying to care for the animals, authorities said Wednesday.

Pima County sheriff's deputies and animal welfare officials who removed the dogs also found 82 caged parrots in the home in a rural area northwest of Tucson.

Some dogs were pregnant and giving birth as they were taken to shelters in Tucson, said Jenny Rose, a spokeswoman for the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. Ninety-six dogs were taken from the house Monday and 700 more on Wednesday, she said.
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"The home was definitely in very bad condition, urine and feces all over the home, in the kitchen and bedroom, with a very strong odor," she said. "Obviously, 800 dogs in a triple-wide mobile home, they were packed in there. That being said, they were in pretty good shape."

The elderly owners, who have not been identified, were apparently overwhelmed but have cooperated with authorities, sheriff's Sgt. James Ogden said. No charges have been filed, but authorities continue to investigate.

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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23601914/

[Kittycat]

1. 800!?!?! I can't imagine how that's even possible.

My God!

[mondo joe]

2. I can't muster any sympathyfor animal hoarders. I probably should, but I can't.

[lisa58]

3. 800 - Eight Hundred - EIGHT HUNDRED?

how?

[0007]

4. How many square feet does a double wide have?

This was pure hell for dogs and parrots. Imagine the noise, with the barking dogs and the squawking birds.

[Wcross]

10. If just one started barking- wow!

I have six dogs & it is unbearable when they are all barking inside. When one starts they all go off.

[LostinVA]

5. I don't even understand how 800 dogs and 82 parrots can fit in a trailer

Even a big trailer.

[Warpy]

6. They were all very, very small dogs

but the noise level must've been deafening. Pomeranians, especially, have incredibly irritating barks.

Hoarding animals is a disease. I hope these folks get some help.

Usually the animals are in terrible condition. It sounds like these dogs were remarkably well cared for, given the stressful conditions inside that trailer.

FYI, triple wides are palatial, even compared to many McMansions.

[Blue Diadem]

8. It looks like there were outbuildings that housed some.

I was wondering that too..800 dogs in a triple wide? It's probably 2000-3000 SF but even at that, it seems impossible.

[Blue Diadem]

7. OMG, 800?

That has to put a tremendous strain on the rescue organizations as well as the Humane Society. We had a recent case in our county with over 100 dogs and our Humane Society had to put out a plea for additional help and food. They were also small dogs but they were terrible shape.

How in the world did those people take care of and feed 800 dogs? At least they weren't starving but OMG that had to be an absolutely disgusting environment.

[hyphenate]

9. It sounds as though many of them

were recently delivered. That's what makes it so difficult. If the humans had just gotten them spayed and neutered, a lot less puppies would be present.

If they were in good shape, it makes it quite positive that most of them will be adoptable. But I hope the county will do the sterilization immediately on those who are in heat, or who delivered sometime recently and aren't nursing.

There are two kinds of hoarders--one that doesn't look at the animals as being living breathing mammals, but as possessions. This is the one class we see most often, the one that gives a really bad image.

The second kind of hoarder just gets in over their head, and ends up with more animals than they can deal with, and it seems this couple did that. Obviously there is still a small amount of OCD likely, but it's mostly a case of insecurity and lack of common sense.

OTOH, if they were running a puppy mill, they deserve to go to jail.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

11. This tops any story I've heard about people hoarding animals. Unfrigging believable!