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"