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Old 11-26-2008, 05:58 PM   #1
TLC
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Default [NEWS] Dogs Removed from Whitefiled Puppy Mill ~ Brylaur Puppies in Maine

THIS IS THE HELL HOLE that TJ and Roxy came from...

Those poor animals, I hope those ppl get charged!!!!

I am going to call the Humane Shelter
and let them know about them being sick dogs and to hopefully place them in the appropraite care

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The Lincoln County News
11/25/2008 2:06:00 PM

State animal welfare agents at the Castle residence in Whitefield on Nov. 20, removing breeding dogs.

Dogs Removed From Whitefield Puppy Mill ~ By Lucy L. Martin

Several vans from the state's Animal Welfare Program pulled up last week at 411 Townhouse Rd., Whitefield, to remove dozens of breeding dogs and a number of cats from the home of Bryant and Laura Castle.

The couple operated Brylaur Kennels and marketed dogs on the Internet where they had a website.

One of the district humane agents emphasized the removal Thursday was "a surrender, not a seizure."

Program director Norma J. Worley said the three agents and program veterinarian Chris Fraser took the majority of the animals to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter. Fraser conducted a cursory general health evaluation of the 60-odd animals, and as of Monday the veterinarian said cultures and testing for parasites were being done on the 53 that were removed from the home. "We're still getting diagnostics back."

The breeds were Pugs, Yorkshire Terriers, Toy Fox Terriers, and Chihuahuas, Fraser said.

Worley said Laura Castle "decided she needed assistance" placing the animals and that the Dept. of Agriculture's Animal Welfare Program had received "information that (Castle) was having difficulty with the numbers."

Various barnyard animals also occupy the property. Worley said, "We will be working with them on the other animals."

According to town records, the Castles were not licensed as operating a kennel for 2008, although the kennel with some 70 dogs has been registered in the past. Thirty-four dogs were licensed this year, said administrative assistant Robin White.

Fraser said the kennel, which had been licensed previously with the state, was "long overdue for an inspection." Attempts to do so since last February were thwarted when agents were turned away at the door and Castle canceled appointments, she said. The telephone number is unlisted.

Following a visit by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Dept., the state and the breeders reached an agreement, which resulted in last week's surrender.

All dogs were kept in the residence, where the agents found crowded conditions, two populations of neutered and non-neutered males, and several caged animals. "It seemed like they were trying to limit their breeding," Fraser said. "We found only one mom and puppies. We're going to make sure they follow through with spaying and neutering" the 11 remaining dogs, she added.

When asked if the premises could be described as a puppy mill, most often defined as a high volume, substandard kennel where unhealthy, overbred dogs are kept in poor condition, Fraser said, "There definitely are concerns, there are issues with the environment, and some of the dogs were very thin."

The Castles also relinquished five horses which, Fraser said, were living in "substandard housing and were very, very thin, some in life-threatening condition." The welfare program received a complaint from the sheriff's department concerning the horses, the vet said, adding, "We're going to persuade them to taper off more and get medical care" for the remaining horses.

On Saturday, an overcast day with biting wind, the Castles' driveway was partially blocked by a tumble-down piece of rusty stock fence.

A couple of trailers, storage structures, scattered firewood and chunks of logs, livestock pens and fabric-covered shelters for numerous horses, ponies, goats, ducks and other fowl dotted the dooryard. The family was outside doing chores.

Laura Castle said her breeding dogs were "not seized but surrendered. The kennel is closed."

She explained that she had come home from work one day and found 42 dogs that had been "returned from another kennel out of state. They'd been dropped on the doorstep. I couldn't handle them. It was too much," she said. Then, when "the state came in to do their kennel inspection, they said they'd take them off our hands. Norma Worley was awesome helping us out."

Castle said she gave up 11 of her own breeding stock and is keeping 11 dogs as pets. She said the family also surrendered "a couple of horses that had medical problems."

Commenting on the kennel closing, Bryant Castle said, "We did it 30 years." The family moved to Whitefield in 1993.

Daughter Sarah, 12, who had had numerous cats, recited all their names. The agents took six adults and 10 kittens and Sarah kept three cats for pets. "She loved her kitties," her father said.

The youngster shows her prize Nubian goats as well as poultry at agricultural fairs.

Though its web page has been pulled, references to it can be found at other sites and on blogs.

At YorkieTalk.com, for example, a headline and comment warn "beware of Brylaur [sic] Puppies - Maine." A dissatisfied customer alleges health problems with two Yorkshire puppies she bought from the kennel, including joint, bowel and liver problems. "I would not recommend a breeder like this," the customer writes.

The state's Worley said, "No charges are to be brought at this point. We may turn a corner, however," and find something that would warrant charges. "I can't say no. But they're being very cooperative at this point."

PHOTO:
State animal welfare agents at the Castle residence in Whitefield on Nov. 20, removing breeding dogs. (Lucy Martin photo)
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