UPDATE on the opening of the door...

[SeniorPetLover]

I was only able to get 4, well, 5 actually...1 female with a 1 week old puppy, another female and 2 males...they are all intact, as are her others...they are all together, fornicating at will...mothers to sons, etc.-I offered her $1000 to let me take the rest of them, but she refused...there are about 8-10 more...some seniors...there are also some outside dogs chained up...now, the dogs are all fed, but they are living in filth...they need their nails trimmed, they have matted hair and they are crawling with fleas...the ones I brought home are in good flesh, but they have no social skills...1 of them is so scared that he hides and tries to bite if approached...I will test for heartworms, but I'm sure they have never had any sort of preventative...the problem is, this is not illegal, so there is nothing I can do to force them to give the rest of animals up to me...I am just hoping that the thought of $1000 will begin to entice them...Sadly, I know they love the animals...the Mom was crying her eyes out as she put them in my arms...they just do not have the resources to take care of them and they don't have the capacity to understand why it is important to spay/neuter...ironic since they had an animal control officer in the family...they are selling the puppies for $50 a piece and supplementing their government income...they live in poverty...one little guy sat on my lap...he had a cherry eye and his nails were curled around his toes...he looked up at me and licked my nose...she wouldn't let me have him, but you can be sure that he is praying that I will be back for him, and so will I...I know that I will get these guys if it is right for me to have them and it certainly seems right! I could sure use a few extra prayers that this all works out! I'll post pictures as soon as I can...Thanks!

 

[Sweet72947]

Wow! Good luck to you! That sounds like a hoarding case...how is that not illegal in your area? Last I heard, neglect was against the law. Of course, I don't know the laws in IL. Kudos to you for helping though ! My prayers go out to you and the babies!

 

[SeniorPetLover]

Sweet-There are no laws here that force people to groom their dogs or to provide veterinary care...as long as they are fed and have shelter, there is not much that can be done...you wouldn't even believe what passes for shelter ...There IS an ordinance that requires rabies shots & registration, but the dogs would not be seized due to such a minor infraction and it would only gaurantee that I would never get access to any more of them...better to be a friend than foe in this case...also the law allows you to have a number of unaltered animals before you have to be licensed as a breeder...I think it is like 30...they are below that...sadly there are no laws against being dirty...I was approached a few years ago and asked to become a Humane Investigator for the IL Dept. of Ag...I had to decline...I know from the cases I have been involved with that the law is often more hindrance than help...I've had to turn to prayer, as corny as that sounds...I am trying to educate, but it is frustrating...even if I get all of the dogs this time, it will likely only be a matter of time before they get more...

 

[Sweet72947]

Oh, ok I know where you are coming from. There are a lot of places that only have the requirement "food, water, and shelter" in their laws. I know its frustration, but I'm glad you're out there to help those in need! I'm in rescue too, and when I'm out on my own I'll probably be doing the same thing you are, except the laws here in VA are a little tougher and they are actually enforced in most places!

 

[Lizmo]

Awwww these poor DOGS!!!!!

says to self......

*crazy crazy crazy people!!*

But LOTS of kudos to you for doing all you can do and more for these dogs!!!!

CANNOT wait for pics of these little babies!!!!!!!

 

[SeniorPetLover]

We live in a rural area and there is a lot of poverty...if people would just stop buying puppies from these people, I think they would get rid of them...but, $50 for a chihuahua seems like such a bargain to some people so they have a steady stream of peolple willing to encourage them to continue to breed...I know that the income is only one factor, as I said, I think they love these dogs, so hoarding does come into play...they just don't have the resources to take good care of them...education is also lacking...what they are doing would seem perfectly normal to some...around here, it is nothing to drive down a road and see houses with 7 or 8 dogs chained to junk cars...I don't know how to solve the problem...seems like all I do is put a band-aid here and there...might even seem like I'm enabling in this situation...only thing is, if I go in and say what I really would like to say, those dogs will never get a chance to go with me...I'm hoping that with patience, I'll get them...$1000 buys a lot of beer and cigarettes...

 

[nikkichan]

If you have the $1000 to spare, maybe you could put the money to get at least SOME of the pups fixed. I'm sure they won't let you do them all since that's how they make money. Maybe you could put a spin on it and tell the people "you could sell an already fixed dog for $100 instead of $50"

I dunno, just a thought.

 

[SeniorPetLover]

If you have the $1000 to spare, maybe you could put the money to get at least SOME of the pups fixed. I'm sure they won't let you do them all since that's how they make money. Maybe you could put a spin on it and tell the people "you could sell an already fixed dog for $100 instead of $50"

I dunno, just a thought.

The $1000 is certainly not spare change I had lying around, but the severity of the situation seemed to warrant it...The Humane Society already volunteered to pay to alter the dogs, but they wanted no part of it...the fact that they are reproducing is only part of the problem...they are living in filth...there is one there that has a severe skin infection...I offered to pay for the treatment, they agreed, but they have not made the vet appointment yet...I am going to follow up in a few days and see if there have been any changes...cross your paws that they will decide to take the money and run!