The rescue resulted from an emergency warrant
obtained against an unlicensed breeder in cooperation with the
Gasconade County Sheriff's
Office
ST.
LOUIS, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This
morning the Humane Society of Missouri's (HSMO) Animal Cruelty Task Force
(ACT) – one of the nation's largest animal-rescue and
disaster-response teams – rescued 22 dogs, including several
puppies ranging in age from five days to six months old, from
Coonies Coonhounds, an unlicensed breeder in Gasconade County, Missouri. The emergency
rescue was prompted by concern from the Gasconade County Sheriff's Office, and the ACT
removed the dogs under a warrant. The dogs, mostly large-breed
Coonhound mixes, are being transported to HSMO's Macklind
headquarters in St. Louis to
receive health evaluations and emergency veterinary treatment. The
sheriff had also witnessed a dead puppy on the property prior to
executing today's warrant, but the remains had been removed prior
to today's rescue.
The team rescued one dog from the same property earlier in the
week. The dog had a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 1 on a scale of 1
to 9, with 1 being the lowest. Suffering from an ear infection and
wounds both old and new, the dog is severely underweight due to
neglect and malnutrition. All of the dogs recovered Thursday are
malnourished and experiencing a range of conditions from wounds to
respiratory issues.
"These dogs lived in horrific conditions, and had we not
intervened, many more may not have survived," said HSMO President
Kathy Warnick. "We are grateful for
the alert actions of the Gasconade
County Sheriff and their assistance in helping us rescue
these animals from such a dangerous and heart-breaking situation.
Now that they are safe, community support is critical to ensure
these dogs receive the care and treatment they deserve and a new
chance for a better life with a loving family."
A date for a disposition hearing to determine whether HSMO will
assume legal custody of the dogs will take place on June 10, 2024. If awarded custody, HSMO will make
the dogs available for adoption after they have been given a clean
bill of health by the veterinarians and evaluated by the animal
behavior team. As the animals recover – medically and behaviorally
– they will be made available for adoption on a case-by-case basis.
There is no current timeline for when these dogs will be ready for
their forever home, but interested adopters can check the HSMO
website at hsmo.org/adopt to see when they become
available.
Donations to help support the care of these animals can be made
on the HSMO website at hsmo.org/rescues. The HSMO also is asking
the public for assistance through donations of blankets,
newspapers, dog toys, dog beds or anything else that can make these
animals' recovery more comfortable. Needed items also are available
to purchase directly from Amazon on HSMO's wish list.
To report an animal that may be in danger or is suffering from
neglect or abuse, call the local police and the Humane Society of
Missouri's Animal Cruelty Hotline
at 314-647-4400.
About the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task
Force
The Humane Society of Missouri's Animal Cruelty Task Force (ACT) is
one of the largest animal rescue/disaster response teams in
the United States. For more than
40 years, ACT has worked side by side with state, local and city
law enforcement officials to investigate and help prosecute animal
abusers.
Annually, Humane Society of Missouri's 15 field-tested, professional
animal cruelty investigators and staff:
- Travel more than 350,000 miles
- Make more than 10,000 responses to reports of
abuse/neglect
- Aid more than 20,000 animals
Humane Society of Missouri's
animal cruelty investigators understand the nuances of animal abuse
law and the criminal justice process for documenting and filing
evidence and work directly with sheriff's offices, police
departments and prosecuting attorneys to help ensure animal cases
are handled in an expedient and professional manner. Humane Society
of Missouri investigators also
provide expert testimony in legal cases and before legislative
bodies and provide consultation and training workshops for law
enforcement, state agencies and local animal care and control
workers.
Together, they work to hold people accountable for the abuse and
neglect of animals in the St.
Louis Metropolitan region and all of Missouri.
Contact Information for the Public
Report Animal
Abuse: 314-647-4400
Donations:
314-951-1542
Humane Society of Missouri website: www.hsmo.org
For more information contact:
Patrick Barry, BYRNE PR 314-540-3865
Patrick@Byrnepr.net
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SOURCE Humane Society of Missouri