TAMPA -Thursday, 11 Jun 2009, 10:07 AM EDT
Hillsborough County Animal Services removed 63 dogs from two breeders, including many Yorkshire Terriers, this morning.
Officers said they received an anonymous tip that the puppies at a mobile home in the 300 block of Orsley Drive in Seffner were living in squalor.
"They're definitely in need of our attention, they're in an environment that's not acceptable," said Dr. Isabel Rosé describing the dogs' conditions. "They're loaded with parasites, and we have to address this."
Workers said the odor was so overpowering they had to wear masks.
"I visually saw feces on the floor, I saw Yorkies urinating everywhere. There [are] feces on beds and on couches," Dr. Rosé said. "There are open cans of food everywhere."
Officers said the puppies born and raised there were sold elsewhere so buyers had no idea where the pets were coming from. Investigators accuse the owner of putting profit above health to sell "high dollar" dogs.
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Click here to see a photo gallery of the Yorkies
"This is your typical treat the animals like crap and make as much money out of them as you can," said Dennis McCullough, Hillsborough County Animal Services Operations Director. "That's what we're dealing with here."
American Kennel Club records found online reveal the owner has been suspended twice, and is not due to be reinstated until November 2010.
Investigators say they plan to pursue misdemeanor charges of improper confinement and felony animal cruelty charges
Officers raided a second home in the 8900 block of 39th Street East in Tampa. According to animal services, the man and his elderly mother own both properties.
Investigators are trying to get the owners to surrender the dogs, so the animals can be cleaned up, treated and put up for adoption.
Dozens of Yorkies rescued from breeders Below is another news coverage of it with the names Family-run puppy mill busted at two different homes
Seffner, Florida - Hillsborough County Animal Services has taken down two suspected puppy mill operations, seizing 63 dogs.
While the suspected mills were in different locations, authorities say they were run by the same family.
Hillsborough County Animal Services received an anonymous tip on Monday from someone hoping to buy a Yorkie puppy from a home in Seffner. Investigators say the tipster became suspicious when the owner, James Jordan, refused to let them see inside the home.
There was reason for the refusal.
Animal Services officers had to wear gloves and masks before going inside the homes in Seffner and Tampa Thursday morning.
The Yorkie dogs and puppies were described to be living in deplorable conditions, with feces all over the floor and cockroaches crawling in their food.
Twenty-eight dogs were seized from the Tampa home where an elderly woman lived, and 35 dogs were taken from her son's home in Seffner.
"This is a typical treat the animals like crap, make as much money as you can," said Dennis McCullough, Animal Services Operation Manager.
McCullough says the mother-son duo were charging $950 for female Yorkies and $500 for the males.
McCullough tells 10 Connects the woman, Dovie Carter, has been breeding dogs for a long time. They have never received complaints about her in the past or her son, James Jordan.
The agency says it has filed for an emergency hearing to gain custody of the all 63 dogs because the Carter and Jordan are refusing to surrender the animals.
The two were not arrested on scene because the investigation is on-going. McCullough says they are facing charges of improper confinement of animals, additional charges are possible. They don't know if there was intent, or if the situation just got out of control.
If Animal Services is successful in gaining custody of the dogs, the agency say you can expect a Yorkie Adopt-A-Thon once they're ready to go home.
We will have more information tonight on 10 Connects News at 5 p.m. and 10 Connects News at 6 p.m.
http://www.wtsp.com/news/mostpop/sto...0&provider=top