[News] Would-be Jupiter breeder in custody after 36 dogs found in "filth

[Breezeaway]

By JENNIFER SORENTRUE and DIANNA SMITH
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 18, 2008
JUPITER — A registered nurse with a passion for dogs was taken from her home Friday after Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control found 36 Yorkshire terriers living in filth.
A relative said owner Shawn O'Connor recently bought a male and female with plans to breed them but apparently didn't give the offspringaway,
Kristin O'Connor, Shawn O'Connor's sister-in-law, who lives in Charlotte County, said she has been trying to persuade him to move to Florida's west coast because "we've been worried," she said.
Apparently someone else was worried, because Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue received a request Friday to check at 1420 Ocean Way, Apartment 7B, where they found Shawn O'Connor and the dogs living in feces and garbage scattered through the townhouse.
O'Connor was taken into custody under the state Baker Act, animal control Lt. Misti Scaggs said. The act allows a person to be taken to a medical facility for psychiatric evaluation for up to 72 hours if he poses a threat to himself or others.
The animals were so dirty they weren't allowed in the shelter, animal control Director Dianne Sauve said.
"They look like they're suffering from not only filth but dental issues and eye issues - all the things that go along with careless breeding and neglect," Sauve said.
The dogs were bathed, checked for microchips, photographed and given medical evaluations.
Veterinarian Eugenie Bucher of Emergency Pet Care of Jupiter said Yorkies have a reputation as sweet lap dogs that are great for apartments and townhouses.
"People do this all the time," Bucher said of dog lovers who have several animals. "They try to help, and it gets out of control. It's sad."

Would-be Jupiter breeder in custody after 36 dogs found in "filth"

[Breezeaway]

By KELLY WOLFE
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Monday, April 21, 2008
Their little faces — even matted, swollen and dirty — were just too cute.
So phones at Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control have been flooded, days after 36 Yorkshire terriers were discovered Friday living in filth in a Jupiter apartment.
Tomorrow, the shelter will roll out a "Yorkie Hotline" for people who want to adopt the dogs.
Animal Control Director Dianne Sauve said the dogs will have to be spayed and neutered before they can be adopted later this week. But the Yorkies won't be handed out to just anyone, she said. They will go through what is called a Special Needs Adoption.
"We're going to be very careful about who takes these dogs," she said.
Sauve said, in animal hoarding cases like this one, the dogs aren't always house-trained or socialized. Plus, these Yorkies are inbred.
The woman who owned the dogs, Shawn O'Connor, was taken into custody under the state Baker Act on Friday. The act allows a person to be taken to a medical facility for psychiatric evaluation for up to 72 hours if he poses a threat to himself or others.
Sauve said the dogs were so dirty upon their arrival, they weren't even allowed in the shelter until they were bathed.
Sauve said she was glad for the enthusiasm, but wanted to remind people that thousands of other animals at the shelter need a home, too.
"Please consider taking an animal no one wants," she said.
There are some photos at the newsite.

Animal shelter swamped with callers wanting to adopt Yorkies

[Lou]

And the woman is a registered nurse? I hope her hygene is better with her human patients!
I am so glad the dogs have been rescued. That shelter is wonderful - they don't turn ANY animal away!

[wookie]

That is soo sad, that yorkie with the eye condition is going to give me nightmares!

[celstu1]

Stories like this are so bittersweet. Im happy and sad all at once when I read something like that. Im glad that these poor babies got the help they desperately needed, yet so sad that they had to live like that in the first place.

[Amanda7]

I'm just thankful that this terrible situation has ended. Now hopefully, these poor babies will have a chance at a good life.

[KathyinCali]

Originally Posted by wookie

That is soo sad, that yorkie with the eye condition is going to give me nightmares!

I feel the same way

[I Love Bailey]

These situations are so heartbreaking!
The upside is that they will get good homes & bring attention to other animals in the shelter who also need homes.

This horrific problem is getting media attention & people are reporting
neighbors who are hoarding & running puppymills.

I know several people who are wanting another dog & are now adopting from shelters & rescues instead of buying from a petstore or breeder.
So there is good coming from this....slowly....

[aerialla]

This story made me cry as so many of them do. The fact that this woman was a nurse gets to me, think of the germs she was taking into patients. It's disgusting. I really do believe they should make national laws forbidding people who commit animal cruelty to never own another pet. This woman shouldn't be allowed to breed earthworms let alone Yorkies or any dog for that matter.

[urbnalbino]

Oh my goodness, I just cannot believe that. Someone please tell me what is wrong with his eye?? Why is it so big???

[celstu1]

probably a serious eye infection

Im so glad people DO call and report people like her.

[lreed]

It looks like someone tried to use a "red-eye correct" on a photo....at least I hope that's what it is!

[karren]

I thought at first it was wearing a sunglasses. poor thing

[xxmxaxrxyxx]

wow i don't know how i missed this story...its sad but has a happy ending...i hope they can find some help for the registered nurse...because i don't think she may have been in her right state of mind...

[FL Tink]

Originally Posted by xxmxaxrxyxx

wow i don't know how i missed this story...its sad but has a happy ending...i hope they can find some help for the registered nurse...because i don't think she may have been in her right state of mind...

YES, YOU are right! She was Baker Act'd In the state of Florida that means she was a danger to herself or others. Its an involuntary commitment to a hospital or psych facility. The fact that she was a RN really plays no role. She is probably just suffering from a physical or mental illness that has her crazy now. I hope for her sake that she pulls out of it. For the dogs, I dont think she was breeding them right? Did I miss that? \
Anyway I dont think it mentioned her age either. She was probably even close to retirement and instead of having 36 cats....the were sadly enough yorkies.
I am grateful they were found! I just wish her family would have insisted on visiting sooner or sent the authorities sooner and THEY suspected she either wasnt on her meds or not acting normal!
Poor babies.
I hope they find good homes soon!