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yorkiesmiles · 03-28-2009, 08:04 PM

UPDATE: Police raid suspected Upper Makefield puppy mill | Courier Times Now

Police raid suspected Upper Makefield puppy mill
Posted: Saturday, March 28th, 2009 at 6:41 pm by Courier Times health reporter Jo Ciavaglia

Upper Makefield police and Bucks County SPCA workers removed 46 Yorkshire terriers, including weeks-old puppies, early Saturday morning from what appears to be an illegal puppy mill operating inside an apparently abandoned home.

The dogs were living in unsanitary condition and overcrowded cages in the basement of a ranch home in the 1400 block of Wrightstown Road, near Maher Lane, authorities said.

No criminal charges had been filed in the case as of Saturday night, but the investigation continues, officials said.

“Certainly there will be charges,” said Anne Irwin, director of the Bucks County SPCA, which took custody of the dogs. “I think this is a breeding operation.”

Police discovered the dogs after receiving a complaint about loud, barking around 12:30 Saturday morning. The caller told police there were a large number of dogs in the basement of a possibly abandoned home, and that some dogs may be dead, according to the probably cause affidavit.

Patrolman Harry Vitello checked the property shortly before 1:30 a.m. and saw a light in the basement. He looked in the windows and saw cages with barking dogs. He also smelled a strong ammonia odor.

The officer found an open back door. He entered and found the upstairs empty - no furniture, “broom clean,” with no signs of occupancy - but the ammonia smell grew stronger as he neared the basement, according to Irwin and the affidavit.

In the basement, Vitello found a room with 22 animal cages filled with dogs, all alive, but living in squalid conditions. The smallest cage was not much larger than a newspaper page and it and housed two adult females and their litters, Irwin said.

Many of the adult dogs had microchips implanted - which are used to identify pets - and it appears the chips were brought in batches, Irwin said.

To read the full story, check out Sunday’s Bucks County Courier Times or visit Courier Times Online: Serving Lower and Central Bucks County, Pennsylvania

03-28-2009, 08:04 PM	#1
yorkiesmiles Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,493	46 Yorkies found in basement of abandoned PA home, living in cages in squalor UPDATE: Police raid suspected Upper Makefield puppy mill \| Courier Times Now Police raid suspected Upper Makefield puppy mill Posted: Saturday, March 28th, 2009 at 6:41 pm by Courier Times health reporter Jo Ciavaglia Upper Makefield police and Bucks County SPCA workers removed 46 Yorkshire terriers, including weeks-old puppies, early Saturday morning from what appears to be an illegal puppy mill operating inside an apparently abandoned home. The dogs were living in unsanitary condition and overcrowded cages in the basement of a ranch home in the 1400 block of Wrightstown Road, near Maher Lane, authorities said. No criminal charges had been filed in the case as of Saturday night, but the investigation continues, officials said. “Certainly there will be charges,” said Anne Irwin, director of the Bucks County SPCA, which took custody of the dogs. “I think this is a breeding operation.” Police discovered the dogs after receiving a complaint about loud, barking around 12:30 Saturday morning. The caller told police there were a large number of dogs in the basement of a possibly abandoned home, and that some dogs may be dead, according to the probably cause affidavit. Patrolman Harry Vitello checked the property shortly before 1:30 a.m. and saw a light in the basement. He looked in the windows and saw cages with barking dogs. He also smelled a strong ammonia odor. The officer found an open back door. He entered and found the upstairs empty - no furniture, “broom clean,” with no signs of occupancy - but the ammonia smell grew stronger as he neared the basement, according to Irwin and the affidavit. In the basement, Vitello found a room with 22 animal cages filled with dogs, all alive, but living in squalid conditions. The smallest cage was not much larger than a newspaper page and it and housed two adult females and their litters, Irwin said. Many of the adult dogs had microchips implanted - which are used to identify pets - and it appears the chips were brought in batches, Irwin said. To read the full story, check out Sunday’s Bucks County Courier Times or visit Courier Times Online: Serving Lower and Central Bucks County, Pennsylvania __________________ yorkiesmiles Loved by Bubba & Roxy *Holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come*